Crimson Peak (2015)

"Beware"

Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Callum Greene, Jon Jashni, Thomas Tull
Written by Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, Jim Beaver
Music by Fernando Velázquez
Cinematography: Dan Laustsen
Edited by Bernat Vilaplana
Production companies: Legendary Pictures, DDY
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date: 14 October 2015 (France)
Running time: 118 minutes
Country: United States, Canada
Budget: $55 million
Box office: $74.7 million

"Crimson Peak" is a romantic fantasy drama film directed and co-written by Guillermo del Toro. The story is about a young author falling in love with a mysterious stranger whose past and present are connected with a big secret of Crimson Peak.

Cast

• Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing
• Sofia Wells as young Edith
• Jessica Chastain as Lady Lucille Sharpe
• Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe
• Charlie Hunnam as Dr. Alan McMichael
• Jim Beaver as Carter Cushing
• Emily Coutts as Eunice McMichael
• Matia Jackett as young Eunice
• Leslie Hope as Mrs. McMichael
• Burn Gorman as Holly
• Laura Waddell as Pamela Upton

With all due deference to Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston and Guillermo del Toro, "Crimson Peak" isn't a masterpiece as the Russian poster says. And this fact really grieves me because I've been looking forward to this film since April. So what does disappoint me so bad?

First of all, acting. Yes, that sounds absolutely insane as the cast consists of such talented actors and actresses as Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Jim Beaver however sometimes their performances seem too overacted - like scenes with thrusting a knife. 

Secondly, the picture is quite slow moving - I love long films with a charming atmosphere but "Crimson Peak" is an exception. And that's strange as the setting of England in the late 19th century must captivate (me anyway) from the first second but it can't. However in all fairness I should admit - visual effects are on the high level undoubtedly.

Advantages

• Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing
• Jessica Chastain as Lady Lucille Sharpe
• Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe
• Jim Beaver as Carter Cushing
• Visual effects
• Guillermo del Toro
• Colours

Disadvantages

• Scenes of death seem too unnatural
• Edith sounds silly

"Strangenesses"

• Why Edith sees ghosts?

Clue Moments

• Meeting with Sir Thomas Sharpe
• Death of Carter Cushing
• The marriage of Thomas and Edith
• The red ring
• The tea
• The truth about the Sharpes
• Crimson ghosts
• The death of Thomas
• Red clay
• The cellar
• The key

Quotations

* * *

Thomas Sharpe: It starts holding onto things... keeping them alive when they shouldn't be.

* * *

Edith Cushing: Ghosts are real, that much I know. I've seen them all my life...

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 6/10

Entertainment: 7/10

Acting: 6/10

Originality: 9/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10