Crimson Peak

Title: Crimson Peak (PG)

Year: 2015

Running Time: 119 minutes

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Cast: Mia Wasikowska (Edith Cushing), Jessica Chastain (Lucille Sharpe), Tom Hiddleston (Thomas Sharpe)

Notes: Won four awards

Rating:  10

Thoughts:   An American heiress marries an English gentleman and moves to the mansion he shares with his sister. Whilst they crave her fortune there is a lot more to their past.

The era (Edwardian) is captured very well and the layers of smart horror are superbly applied. Sound, light, and colour are all cleverly used to paint a picture of a truly odd couple.

We can see Edith being sucked into danger even when she can't and the suspense is built as we wait for the inevitable confrontation. It's very good horror with very little that is truly horrific, more occasionally violent, and thoroughly unpleasant, but in a good way.

All that is good about Gothic styles is present and I would say that all that was great about the Hammer films of old is also here. The look, the feel, the sneaking darkness. All that is good about most of del Toro's work is here.

The actors are all masterful, the pace keeps going in what is still a relatively simple tale, and there are some nice ideas around ghosts. It's is an excellent alternative horror.