Guillermo del Toro’s Most Beautiful Horror Film Turns 10—And It’s More Haunting Than Ever

As Crimson Peak celebrates its 10th anniversary, it remains one of the most visually stunning films in Guillermo del Toro’s distinguished career. Released in 2015, the film continues to captivate audiences with its breathtaking production design, its haunting atmosphere, and its deeply emotional storytelling. While del Toro is known for his mastery of visual spectacle, Crimson Peak stands out as his most beautifully designed film—one that marries the lush grandeur of Gothic horror with a rich narrative full of love, loss, and personal transformation.

A Feast for the Eyes

At its core, Crimson Peak is a visual feast. From the intricate costumes to the hauntingly eerie sets, del Toro’s attention to detail makes the film a cinematic wonder. Set in an opulent but decaying manor house in the English countryside, the film’s production design immerses the viewer in a world where beauty and terror coexist. The house itself, perched atop a mountain that bleeds red clay, becomes one of the most unforgettable characters in the story. Its decaying walls, constantly oozing with scarlet hues, represent the slow decay of both the Sharpe family legacy and the characters themselves. The imagery is unmistakably Gothic, filled with elements of tragedy, romance, and the supernatural.

Watching Crimson Peak again now, a decade after its release, its visual magnificence still leaves a lasting impression. The film is an exercise in how to blend the grandeur of classical Gothic with a modern sensibility, making it both timeless and contemporary in its storytelling.

A Modern Take on a Gothic Romance

While the film is undeniably beautiful, Crimson Peak is much more than a visual spectacle. As del Toro explained in interviews promoting the film, Crimson Peak is not merely a horror or haunted house film, but rather a Gothic romance—a genre that del Toro has always held dear. The story follows Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), a young woman who falls under the spell of Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), a mysterious nobleman with a dark past. After a whirlwind romance, Edith is swept away to Thomas’s crumbling manor, where his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) harbors secrets of her own.

Del Toro infuses the classic elements of Gothic romance into the film’s narrative: a young woman whisked away to a decaying mansion, a mysterious man, and a woman scorned, yet what sets Crimson Peak apart is Edith’s role as a writer of ghost stories. This choice allows del Toro to explore deeper themes about storytelling, personal growth, and the nature of the supernatural. Edith is not the typical damsel in distress; she is proactive, independent, and determined to uncover the truth about the house and the ghosts that haunt it. Her passion for writing ghost stories allows del Toro to explore the intricacies of genre, paying homage to Gothic tropes while subverting them with a modern lens.

The House as a Metaphor

The manor at the heart of Crimson Peak is more than just a setting—it serves as a metaphor for the fragile, decaying lives of those who inhabit it. The mansion, called Allerdale Hall, is slowly sinking into the red clay of the mountain, its very foundations bleeding red. The house is scarred, much like its inhabitants, and the physical deterioration of the home mirrors the emotional and psychological unraveling of its residents. The red clay that once brought the Sharpe family untold wealth has now become a haunting symbol of decay and death. As snow falls on the mountain, the once-beautiful landscape turns blood red, transforming the environment into an open wound, a haunting reminder of the past’s persistent presence.

Emotional Resonance and Character Depth

Beyond the visual splendor, Crimson Peak excels in its emotional depth, which is perhaps its most powerful quality. Del Toro does not simply focus on the ghosts that haunt the house but on the emotional ghosts of its characters—their regrets, desires, and the dark secrets that bind them. The supernatural elements are used not just to spook the audience but to highlight the very real emotional struggles of the characters.

Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Thomas Sharpe is a masterclass in subtlety and complexity. As a man torn between love, guilt, and a sinister family legacy, Hiddleston brings a tragic depth to the character. His chemistry with Wasikowska’s Edith is palpable, adding layers to the Gothic romance at the center of the story. Jessica Chastain, as the enigmatic Lucille, delivers a chilling performance, providing the film with its emotional heart as well as its darkness.

A Masterpiece of 21st-Century Horror

Crimson Peak is a film that deserves to be celebrated for its artistry, craftsmanship, and emotional resonance. While it may not have received the same mainstream recognition as some of del Toro’s other works, such as Pan’s Labyrinth, it remains a masterclass in horror filmmaking—one that elevates the genre with its delicate balance of beauty and terror. Every visual element, every character, and every plot twist is deliberate, adding to the narrative’s richness and depth. For del Toro, Crimson Peak is not just a film, but a piece of art that invites audiences to look beyond the surface and embrace the beauty and sadness that reside within.