Crimson Peak

A visually stunning film, where some scenes completely captivated me, and I couldn't believe that something like that could be filmed. And yet the film bears Guillermo's signature. It's beautiful in that regard, but the story didn't really grab me - it's okay in terms of acting, but not great. It’s visually stunning, but otherwise, it just doesn't hit the mark. That’s a shame. (12/28/2015)

Even after all these years, a rewatch of Crimson Peak didn't disappoint — it still holds its grip on me. It's an intriguing blend of supernatural horror and thriller with a psychopathic serial killer. The creators put effort into crafting a disturbing atmosphere without relying solely on cheap scares. Most importantly, the story was engaging and coherent. The only real downside for me was Mia Wasikowska. She's just not my type, leaving me to ponder why I found her appealing in this role. There must be some intangible quality about her, but I'll never quite know for sure. The casting for both the villains and heroes was spot on, their characters felt lifelike, and everything was written and filmed quite well. So, even on a second viewing, I remained satisfied and didn't feel the need to lower my original rating. / Lesson learned: If you believe in ghosts, maybe steer clear of England. (06/04/2022)

Gothic horror films are more a thing of the past (1960s-70s), I believe most people who went to Crimson Peak expecting a classic ghost story similar to Insidious are disappointed. Crimson Peak is different from classic horror films in just about every way. It has breathtakingly polished visuals with gorgeous costumes, a solid cast with very good acting performances, and a decent story that doesn't lack a twist. As for the atmosphere, it works especially in the beautiful remote mansion, where I personally wouldn't spend a day, and I was pleasantly surprised by the brutality, Guillermo del Toro doesn't pull punches here. These are the plus points, but what is a surprising downside is that not a single scare worked for me, which is a shame, as the looks of the ghost all bloodied up were welcomed with open arms (I mentally screamed in joy that it was no pale black-haired woman), and the slower pace of the narrative, especially in the middle section, is also a shame. All in all, a tribute to the old Gothic horror films with excellent sequences, but not very functional horror-wise. A place in this year's top ten, however, is not yet certain for Crimson Peak. Story 7.5/10, Atmosphere 8/10, Gore 6/10, Visuals 10/10, Action 4/10, Scares 3/10, Entertainment 6/10. 75% (10/18/2015)

Guillermo del Toro can create an atmosphere and a beautiful scenery; you can’t deny that with any of his movies. But the flow of storytelling can sometimes be an issue and it doesn’t let his movies be perfect experiences.For the first 50 minutes, I thought I’d die of the worst possible movie boredom. It wasn’t until Mia found out that she was on Crimson Peak that it all started to get good. Especially since the atmosphere of the house itself began to show. I must admit, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen two completely different movie halves. While the first half of the movie is awfully boring, the second half is what makes the movie worth watching. (11/04/2016)

That Guillermo did not stick with just production this time can only be understood as a wish to double his earnings. Crimson Peak’s run-of-the-mill, unoriginal subject matter is barely worthy of a 90-minute runtime. In addition, there is no tension and he tries to achieve the wow effect by using old-school tricks. The set designs, however, are really beautiful, the cast is superb and the occasional splattering of blood is satisfactory. The potential of the twisted romance that emerges from this offered more possibilities, but Guillermo would have had to resign himself to satisfying a broad audience and strike a more perverted chord. It’s a shame that the maker of such distinctive and captivating cinematic worlds stooped this low. (10/17/2015)