Crimson Peak

Guillermo Del Toro has outdone himself again with this visual masterpiece. My friend had this movie and the second I found out dead people were involved I asked them if it was scary-- they said no and my official verdict is that they need to learn the difference between a scary movie and a not scary movie because this movie is just a step down from Mama. And in fact, the ghosts in this movie moved and interacted with the characters in a very similar way the ghost "Mama" did in Mama, so I'm beginning to think Guillermo Del Toro has a style to his demon or ghost characters and, while it freaked me out immensely, I really really enjoy it.

Crimson Peak does not follow every other Del Toro movie formula I've seen. The endings to basically all of his movies are that the main character dies and they are happier for it, while everyone else is sad. I've also noticed a grim tone at the end of his movies, while this particular one carries a resolute and almost uplifting tone. Crimson Peak's plot seemed pretty straightforward and textbook, but the way it was executed made it feel brand new.

Each character in Crimson Peak is unique. Jessica Chastain does an amazing job in her role as the jealous sister-- I was most impressed by her performance. I really believed in her love for her brother but also, the reality that some of her love for him came from her mental instability and what she had put them through because her actions. By the end of the movie she had convinced me that this wasn't as much a "love" as it was a result of power dynamics and manipulation. Tom Hiddleston's character was actually my least favorite because I feel like the movie relied a lot on his looks and his charm and his accent, so much so that they didn't really develop his character much past that and the fact that he was under the thumb of his sister. His performance in this movie wasn't bad, it was just his character didn't leave anything to the imagination; I immediately saw his "plot twist" character change within the first 10 minutes of them moving into the house. Mia Wasikowska was also up there with Jessica Chastain. I really loved the fact that even though she was infatuated with this mysterious man she still retained some sort of her individuality and independence, and while that is her character, her performance made me believe that was more her true self with a topcoat of love covering it.
I really loved the colors in this movie. First off, the bright tangerine red colors of the ghosts in the house was amazing. You learn later that their color comes from the clay in the earth. However, Wasikowska's character's mother shows up as a black cloaked ghosts. The difference between the colors and mannerisms of the ghosts exemplify their significance. The bloody and frantic nature of the ghosts in the mansion signify their past and their motive in showing themselves to Wasikowska. The mother on the other hand, was black, haunting but unseen, and roaming. She issues a warning to her daughter and that's it. She isn't trying to interact, only warn, and her non-conversational, evasive nature shows the audience that what we are supposed to focus on is her warning and not her presence. The costume design was also very visually particular in this movie. Hiddleston and Chastain's characters are both pale, exotic, have dark contrasting features, and dress in Gothic attire. This contrasts significantly with Wasikowska in her blondness, pale but pink complexion, and her usual cream or light dress tone. It very obviously points to who the bad guys are in this film.
I was amazed at how Del Toro turned a relatively basic and common plot into something completely his own. The plot is that Wasikowska and Hiddleston fall in love and marry, but it turns out Hiddleston and Chastain, who plays Hiddleston's sister, have ulterior motives. It isn't that hard of a plot to figure out from the beginning, but how it is shot, particularly once they get to the mansion, creates an eerie feel that I have only felt in other Del Toro movies. It felt very akin to Pan's Labyrinth-- that creepy something-isn't-right feeling, but on an adult level. There are some really amazing shots of Wasikowska in the long, drawn out, repetitive hallways, and the shots reflect her uncertain environment. The incredible composition of this movie makes it Del Toro's.

Crimson Peak is definitely a movie to watch over and over. So much happens in so little time where it seems like nothing happens. This movie rewards its audience for paying attention-- you can easily figure out the end if you pay attention to the right details. The ending is not a common Del Toro ending, but the plot's execution is quintessential Del Toro. You see his marks everywhere. This is in fact a scary movie (or at least I thought it was) with substantial content as well. Creepy, well executed, and stuffed with substance, Crimson Peak will leave you looking down every hallway suspiciously.