Crimson Peak (2015)

Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak (2015) is a Gothic romance wrapped in horror elements, blending haunted house chills with a deeply tragic love story. While marketed as a ghost story, del Toro himself clarified: “It’s not a ghost story. It’s a story with ghosts in it.”

Detailed Summary

Childhood and First Encounter with Ghosts

The film opens with a young Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) in Buffalo, New York. After the death of her mother, she is visited by her ghostly apparition, who whispers a chilling warning: “Beware of Crimson Peak.” This moment shapes Edith’s fascination with death and the supernatural, influencing her path as an aspiring writer.

Meeting Thomas and Lucille Sharpe

Years later, Edith meets Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), a charming English baronet who, along with his mysterious sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain), is seeking investment for his clay-mining machine. Though Edith’s father, Carter Cushing, distrusts the Sharpes and warns her away, Edith is drawn to Thomas’s intellect and passion. When her father dies under suspicious circumstances, Edith marries Thomas and follows him to England.

Arrival at Allerdale Hall (Crimson Peak)

Thomas and Lucille’s family estate, Allerdale Hall, is a massive, decaying Gothic mansion sinking into the red clay-rich ground. The clay seeps through the snow, staining it blood-red—thus the locals call it “Crimson Peak.” The house itself becomes a character: its roof is collapsing, walls bleed red clay, and ghostly apparitions lurk in its corridors.

The Secrets of the Sharpes

At Allerdale, Edith begins to see terrifying ghosts warning her of danger. She discovers records and clues revealing that Thomas and Lucille have a sinister history: multiple women have been lured to the house, married, and killed, their wealth stolen to keep the estate afloat. Edith realizes she is their latest victim.

Lucille, the more ruthless of the siblings, becomes increasingly violent and unhinged. Her obsession with Thomas runs deep—not only is she his sister, but their relationship is incestuous, a shocking reveal that underscores the corruption at the heart of Crimson Peak.

Movie Ending

The climax unfolds in brutal Gothic fashion. Lucille discovers Edith knows the truth and tries to kill her. Meanwhile, Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam), Edith’s childhood friend, arrives to rescue her but is stabbed by Thomas and left for dead.

However, Thomas’s feelings for Edith complicate matters. He admits his love for her is real and helps her escape. Lucille, consumed by jealousy and rage, kills Thomas in a fit of passion by stabbing him through the chest. His ghost, however, returns briefly to aid Edith one last time.

In the snow-stained grounds of Crimson Peak, Edith and Lucille have a violent confrontation. Edith ultimately kills Lucille with a shovel, ending the siblings’ reign of terror.

The film closes with Edith reflecting on her experiences. She survives, but she carries the haunting memories of Crimson Peak forever. The final shots show Lucille’s ghost still trapped in Allerdale Hall, forever bound to the decaying mansion.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Crimson Peak does not feature any post-credits scenes. Once the main story concludes and the credits roll, there are no additional teases, epilogues, or hidden sequences.

Type of Movie

The film is a Gothic romance with horror elements. While ghosts, gore, and scares are present, the focus is more on atmosphere, tragic love, obsession, and family secrets than on jump scares or traditional horror.

Cast

• Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing
• Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe
• Jessica Chastain as Lucille Sharpe
• Charlie Hunnam as Dr. Alan McMichael
• Jim Beaver as Carter Cushing

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Fernando Velázquez, whose haunting and melancholic music perfectly complements the Gothic atmosphere. The soundtrack balances eerie strings with sweeping romantic themes, reflecting the duality of horror and love within the story.

Filming Locations

The film was shot primarily in Toronto, Canada, with soundstage work done at Pinewood Toronto Studios. Unlike many productions, del Toro insisted on building a full-scale, fully detailed mansion for Allerdale Hall. This allowed the cast and crew to interact with the house as a physical, oppressive presence—an artistic choice that amplifies the sense of realism and dread.

Awards and Nominations

While not a major awards contender, the movie received recognition for its technical brilliance:

• Saturn Awards: Won Best Horror Film.
• Nominated for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design at several festivals and critics’ circles.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Guillermo del Toro personally designed much of the mansion’s interior, filling it with symbolic detail.
• The mansion set was built entirely from scratch, only to be demolished after filming.
• Jessica Chastain learned piano for her role to play Lucille authentically.
• Tom Hiddleston was cast after Benedict Cumberbatch left the project.
• Del Toro gave the actors “character bibles,” filled with backstory, psychological details, and symbolism.

Inspirations and References

The movie draws heavy inspiration from:

• Classic Gothic literature, such as Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and Wuthering Heights.
• Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre tales of obsession and death.
• Traditional Gothic cinema like The Innocents (1961) and Hammer Horror films.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No alternate ending was filmed, but early drafts of the script contained additional ghost appearances and more explicit revelations about the Sharpe siblings’ past crimes. Some dialogue-heavy scenes were trimmed to maintain pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is a novelization of the film, but it closely follows the movie. The primary difference is that the novel expands on character backstories, particularly Lucille’s psychological descent.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Young Edith’s first ghostly encounter with her mother.
• Edith stepping into Allerdale Hall for the first time, greeted by falling leaves through the broken roof.
• The revelation of the incestuous relationship between Thomas and Lucille.
• The final snowy showdown at Crimson Peak.

Iconic Quotes

• Ghost of Edith’s mother: “Beware of Crimson Peak.”
• Lucille: “Love makes monsters of us all.”
• Edith: “Ghosts are real. This much I know.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The clay’s red coloration is a metaphor for blood seeping through the ground, symbolizing buried secrets.
• Lucille often wears red and black costumes, reflecting her role as both seductress and executioner.
• The design of the ghosts—with skeletal, decaying forms—was inspired by X-ray images.

Trivia

• Guillermo del Toro rejected CGI ghosts in favor of practical effects enhanced with digital touches.
• Del Toro kept the key set pieces (like the gramophone and Lucille’s ring) in his personal collection.
• Mia Wasikowska replaced Emma Stone, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

Why Watch?

If you love Gothic stories filled with grand mansions, tragic romances, and supernatural chills, Crimson Peak is a visual feast. It’s not a cheap scare-fest but rather a darkly beautiful tale of love, betrayal, and obsession.

Director’s Other Movies

• Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
• The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
• Hellboy (2004)
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
• The Shape of Water (2017)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Others (2001)
• Rebecca (1940)
• The Innocents (1961)
• The Haunting (1963)
• Jane Eyre (2011)