Crimson Peak (2015)

Cole praises this as the definitive home-video edition of del Toro’s elegant haunted-house film. He singles out Arrow Video’s substantial new extras, especially a documentary on the film’s production design and literary inspirations.

The review is positive, while suggesting the film’s story is less compelling than its presentation. It singles out the lavish production design and visual atmosphere for praise.

Thompson sees the film as an exhilarating blend of fantasy, horror, and Gothic romance. She especially praises its richly detailed production design and filmmaking artistry.

Jenkins praises the film as a heartbreaking, romantic triumph and a rewarding gothic experience. He singles out Jessica Chastain’s performance and del Toro’s visual craft for particular praise.

Bradshaw finds the film addictively watchable, macabre and impressively showy. He praises its intricate, sumptuous visuals, while expressing reservations about the ghosts and the violence.

Jolin finds the film a visually sumptuous, gory success and calls it an uncommon treat. He particularly praises its baroque gothic design, especially the bleeding mansion and lurid ghosts.

Newman calls the film a rich, rattling good gothic melodrama, despite a few dialogue flaws and a somewhat conventional romance. He especially praises the magnificent ruined mansion and its lovingly detailed production design.

O'Sullivan finds the film an appealing, heartfelt gothic romance despite its lack of scares and occasional daft moments. She especially praises the characters and performances, as well as the film’s treatment of class, wealth and oppression.

Lucca presents the film as a revival of gothic psychological tradition, despite its misunderstood status. She praises its sumptuous visual flourishes.

Rife finds the film gorgeous and tragic but not very scary, with its thrills diminishing after the early scenes. She singles out Jessica Chastain’s performance and the richly detailed production design for praise.

The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict or specific praise or criticism. Its URL identifies a review framing the film as a Gothic romance in high, bloody style.

The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is behind a paywall. The accessible text provides no praise or criticism to summarize.

Huddleston calls the film a fun but predictable Gothic ghost story. He praises its entertainment value while noting its predictable plot.

The review finds the film visually striking but short on surprises and ultimately not scary. It praises the inventive ghosts and the richly designed, menacing mansion.

Ebiri finds the film’s story underdeveloped, though its images and atmosphere linger after viewing. He especially praises its ornate production design, ghostly imagery, costumes, and visual richness.

Aspinall calls the film a major disappointment despite its promising creative talent. He praises the striking sets, while finding the story predictable.

McCarthy finds the film lavishly stylish but narratively conventional, predictable, and neither surprising nor frightening. He particularly praises its camerawork, sets, costumes, effects, and meticulous period detail.

The critic finds the film overdecorated and underdeveloped, with its atmosphere of dread falling short. They say it only comes to life during the final suspenseful showdown.

Debruge finds the film visually ravishing but ultimately disappointing, criticizing its obvious plot and lack of effective scares. He praises the haunted mansion’s ornate design and atmosphere, while faulting Jessica Chastain’s performance and the mismatch between beauty and gore.

Crump praises the film as a richly sensory gothic fairy tale rather than a conventional horror movie. He singles out Allerdale Hall’s production design as a standout achievement, calling it a monument to decayed beauty.

The critic gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it del Toro’s best since Pan’s Labyrinth. They especially praise its lavish Gothic design and the patient, skillful build-up to its scares.

Hammond delivers a strongly positive verdict, praising the film as a sumptuous, old-fashioned gothic horror treat. He particularly singles out its lavish production design and Jessica Chastain’s villainous performance.

Kaye likes the film despite its predictable screenplay and limited scares, finding it an absorbing Gothic romance rather than horror. He especially praises its sumptuous visuals, production design, costumes, and Jessica Chastain’s performance.

The critic finds the film low on scares but riveting and surprisingly heartbreaking. They praise its three lead performances and evocative, intricately detailed production design.

The review finds the film visually dazzling and full of del Toro’s distinctive style, though its drama never entirely satisfies. It praises the elaborate mansion and production design, while faulting the ghosts’ glossy digital effects.

Naughten finds the film a fine, visually imaginative gothic spectacle, though it falls short of del Toro’s best work. She particularly praises its sumptuous sets, costumes, and richly detailed visual design.

Goldberg finds the film gorgeous and unsettling, though its character work and plot fall short of del Toro’s earlier films. He praises the richly detailed production design and costumes, while criticizing the overly artificial-looking ghosts.

The critic finds the film beautiful and humane but says its revelations weaken its central exploration of ghosts. They especially praise Jessica Chastain’s performance and the film’s striking production design.

The critic finds the film visually sumptuous but ultimately underwhelming, with its romance and horror failing to deliver. They praise its gorgeous design and sinister atmosphere, while faulting the weak story and computer-generated ghosts.

The critic finds the film entertaining but ultimately disappointing, with a clunky, shallow plot. They praise Jessica Chastain’s scene-stealing performance and the film’s striking visual detail.

The critic finds the film visually enchanting but ultimately tedious and emotionally uninvolving. They praise its meticulous gothic atmosphere and the performances of its three leads, while faulting the romance and overly explicit ghosts.

The critic finds that the film fails as a horror movie, thriller, and romance. They praise its visual beauty but single out its unbelievable central romance and lack of tension as major flaws.