Crimson Peak
The Plot
Edith Cushing has seen ghosts since she was a little girl, when the specter of her recently deceased mother who visits her childhood bedside with a single warning: beware of Crimson Peak. Later in life, a family tragedy spurs Edith into marrying the dashing yet mysterious Thomas Sharpe—who spirits her away to the decrepit manor in the English countryside where he lives with his sister, whose red clay stains the snow blood red and earns it the local moniker of—you guessed it—Crimson Peak.
The longer Edith remains there with her new husband, the stranger things become; and for the first time since she was a child, Edith sees ghosts once again.
The Breakdown
Honestly, Crimson Peak itself might be one of my all-time favorite horror settings. Half-decayed and set on a foundation of clay as red as blood, with its infestation of moths and its fallen-in roof which allows the snow and dead leaves to come drifting in—the house itself is a masterpiece. I especially loved the vats of red clay in the basement, and Thomas Sharpe’s non-functioning mining machine. Every last object is rich with thematic significance.
Though the plot itself is not wildly original, the beauty of the sets, costumes, and atmosphere more than pick up the slack. Especially for fans of Gothic literature and period pieces, this eerie and atmospheric horror movie is worth a watch for the visuals alone.
The Scare Factor
Though some of the ghost sequences are certainly creepy, the CGI is honestly not all that great; the movie’s finale is heart-pounding, but not all that likely to keep you awake at night. Overall this is a great movie to watch for creepy ambiance and a dose of romance with your horror.