Before seeing “Crimson Peak,” I had some high expectations, due to some of its big-time cast members like Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Charlie Hunnam and Jessica Chastain, to name a few. I also consider myself to be a bit of a horror movie fan, so that raised my skepticism before seeing it, considering that I feel that the majority of modern horror films are boring or illogical. What really drew me in was that the film included a love story and a ghost story, which, for me, tends to be the most thrilling or scary. Sadly, by the end of the film, I felt disappointed. 

The movie, which takes place after the end of the Victorian era, began with an eerie sound of heavy breathing coming from the main character Edith, played by Wasikowska, with a scratch and blood on her face. Next, we see a flashback to Edith’s childhood where she was visited by the ghost of her mother telling her: “Beware of Crimson Peak.” Fast forwarding to present day, the scene jumps right into the romance where Edith met a young aristocrat named Sir Thomas Sharpe, played by Hiddleston, and Tom’s sister, Lucille, played by Chastain. To Edith’s father’s dismay, the two fell in love. All things remained happy in the beginning, but did not last very long. 

Sadly, “Crimson Peak” proved to be all too predictable throughout the entire film. In many instances, something happens, but it had already been revealed to the viewer or hinted at earlier in the film. 

From the beginning, I felt something was off about Lucille and Tom, even though Tom was charming and handsome. Later, the horrible truth about the siblings was revealed.

The ghost aspect of the film proved to be not nearly as significant as the trailers had suggested. They were not violent, just creepy because of their deathly, bloody appearances, which we later find out the truth about. Throughout the film, the only time the ghosts appeared were when they were trying to warn Edith about Tom and Lucille.

*SPOILER ALERT*

The only thing that proved to be surprising was when Edith found Tom and Lucille in bed together acting as passionate lovers, but looking back at the film after it is over, there were instances where their incestuous relationship was hinted at. The biggest giveaway was when Lucille got angry after finding out that Tom and Edith spent the night together away from Crimson Peak. Lucille would also repeatedly say that she and Tom have to stick together and that she doesn’t want to be left alone or to be away from him.

Overall, I would say that “Crimson Peak” lacked in suspense besides the gory and violent moments, but it would be a good film for someone who is not much of a horror movie fan or who does not like to be surprised.