Crimson Peak

I was wary because to me Del Toro is a pretty overrated director, but en the end I loved Crimson Peak for its artistic style – its not very original story notwithstanding – and I’m giving it almost the highest rating. The money put on it can really be seen. Given that right now there aren’t that many big narrative horror films, I don’t think it’d be fair to throw Crimson Peak among the average. The cast is wonderful, finally someone who really knows how to act in a genre film. A proper gothic-horror in the best sense of the word, and I’m sure it will make it to my TOP 10 this year. (2015-10-16)

Del Toro's cold visual exhibition lacks any narrative innovation or moment of surprise. If it was a random, budding filmmaker, we would no doubt be impressed by the arrangement and depth of the shots or the disturbing visual symbolism, but in the case of the renowned Guillermo, I find it reprehensible that he has wasted his formidable talent on a subject so generic and accessible. Moreover, the crossover between historical realism and ghost horror doesn't work 100%, and in a story where the main evil is represented by humans and their greed, the ghostly interludes feel slightly out of place, even though they are the ones where del Toro vehemently displays his unique imagery. Next time, master, be wiser when choosing a project. 65% (2016-03-08)

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. (2016-11-04)

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. (2015-12-28)

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% (2015-10-18)