Crimson Peak: Romance, psychopaths and ghosts in a haunted mansion

Two years after Pacific Rim, the maestro of gothic horror film, Guillermo del Toro presents to us another dark fantasy, horror-romance-thriller called Crimson Peak.

If you are a fan, Crimson Peak will send your bones shivering in fear. If you are not, then you might be sceptical over the hype of this US$55 million (RM228 million) film.

For me Del Torro has created a film that is bloody yet stylish and romantic all at the same time with graceful camera work, surreal sets, the costumes circa the years of the Industrial Revolution and impeccable special effects.

However, the movie is so contrasting in many points. Like, the plot is conventionally loaded with scare but yet not really disturbing and at times maybe even comedic; the romance is pure but at the same time evil and the characters at times, intriguing.

Crimson Peak tells the love story of Edith Cushing, played by Mia Wasikowska - a headstrong and intelligent, young, independent and obedient daughter of a successful and conventional widower industrialist, Carter Cushing, played by Jim Beaver. All is well for father and daughter until an English gentleman named Sir Thomas Sharpe, played by Tom Hiddleston, comes into the picture.

In the 19th century, during the era of rapid scientific discovery and invention, Sharpe, a business man, who is also an inventor, tirelessly strives to make his mining machine to function. He is also for American financial backing for his invention, the 'clay harvester', that would efficiently do the work it takes many men to accomplish. Not impressed by Sharpe’s presentation and proposal, Edith’s father disapproves of him and keeps a tight watch over Sharpe’s infatuation for his daughter.

However, with Sharpe's charm and hot an cold persona, he succeeded in sweeping Edith off of her feet.

Even an intelligent independent woman like Edith fell like a fool in love. She married Sharpe despite warnings from her father and her mother's ghost. (Yes, Edith is able to see ghosts ever since she was young.)

But, together with Sharpe, comes his dark and less congenial yet sultry older sister, Lady Lucille Sharpe, played by Jessica Chastain. Yet, Edith, willingly left everything behind and moved into their eerie mansion far far away from home.

Having the ability to see ghosts since her mother’s death, Edith is once again overwhelmed by the hauntings and apparitions that appear in Sharpe's haunted house. Edith then slowly discovers that there are more to the Sharpes than just a pair of orphaned siblings living together in a huge haunted mansion.

Crimson Peak is everything ghostly, monstrous and sexual (but not explicit) all in one. Though I don’t quite appreciate the out of time Halloween feel to this whole movie, Del Torro's love for goth and horror is not just vividly apparent, but also infectious - just like in his previous movies.

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, Jim Beaver, Burn Gorman, Leslie Hope, Doug Jones.

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Written by: Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins, Lucinda Coxon

Release date: 15 October 2015 (United International Pictures)

Here's a sneak preview of the Crimson Peak due to be released in Malaysian cinemas on October 15, 2015: