Crimson Peak Limited Edition 4K UHD Review

4 star lavishly produced gothic horror.

Originally released in 2015, Crimson Peak is a gothic horror film which comes from the fertile imagination of  the amazing Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pacific Rim), who also directs and is co-written by Matthew Robbins (Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Vijay and I).

It is available in the UK for the first time on Limited Edition 4K UHD from 20th May 2024 courtesy of Arrow Video.

“Ghosts are real. That much I know. The first time I saw one, I was ten years old. It was my mother’s.”

Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska – Stoker, Alice in Wonderland) is an young American woman who aspires to become a writer. She is attempting to be published, but likes to incorporate ghosts into her work, ‘it’s not a ghost story but a story with a ghost in it’ as she explains and publishers prefer romance novels. She is admired by Alan (Charlie Hunnam – Children of Men, Sons of Anarchy), an ophthalmologist who has his office in the same building as her father Carter (Jim Beaver – Nightmare Alley).

There is a buzz in the air about a visitor from England, Baronet Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston – The Avengers, Kong: Skull Island) and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain – Memory, The Good Nurse). He is here with a business proposal for Edith’s father and looking for capital for a new clay mining machine. He is invited to a party at the home of Eunice (Emily Coutts – Star Trek Discovery), but his head is turned by Edith and he takes her instead. Carter is suspicious of Thomas and does a little investigating. What he finds causes him to tell them to leave, but shortly after he is attacked and killed (although the coroner believes it to be an accident.)

Unaware of this, after the funeral Edith agrees to marry Thomas and they move to Cumberland, England, to the huge gothic mansion ‘Allerdale Hall’. The red clay upon which it is built seeps into everything, causing it to be known as Crimson Peak and the house is slowly falling down. Visited by ghosts and apparitions issuing warnings, can Edith find out what Thomas and Lucille really want and unearth the secrets of this imposing building?

“No, it’s not sad, Edith. It’s nature. It’s a savage world of things dying or eating each other right beneath our feet.”

Crimson Peak is a very enjoyable film to watch. Although there are some moments of very gruesome horror, the main feel of the film is a gothic romance, helped by the mansion itself which was created on a soundstage and is extremely impressive, almost a character in it’s own right. The practical effects of the ghosts are also very effective and downright scary, with Doug Jones (Star Trek Discovery, Pan’s Labyrinth) putting in a stellar performance as always.

With such a seasoned cast, you would expect excellence and they do not disappoint. The period styling and costumes are lavish and extravagant and the actors make the most of them, seeming natural in their roles.

The 4K really enhances this, the details are beautifully crisp and the special effects stand up well to the upgrade. With a whole host of special features as well as a book, postcards and a poster, this release is well worth adding to your collection.

“You’re always looking to the past. You won’t find me there. I’m here.”

Crimson Peak is available on Limited Edition 4K UHD from 20th May 2024.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), approved by director Guillermo Del Toro
• Original 7.1 DTS:X and 2.0 DTS Headphone:X audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Optional Descriptive Video Service® (DVS®) for the visually impaired
• Audio commentary by co-writer and director Guillermo del Toro
• The House is Alive: Constructing Crimson Peak, a feature-length documentary with cast and crew interviews and extensive behind the scenes footage
• Spanish language interview with Guillermo del Toro
• The Gothic Corridor, The Scullery, The Red Clay Mines, The Limbo Fog Set; four featurettes exploring different aspects of Allerdale Hall
• A Primer on Gothic Romance, the director and stars talk about the key traits of Gothic romance
• The Light and Dark of Crimson Peak, the cast and crew talk about the film’s use of colour
• Hand Tailored Gothic, a featurette on the film’s striking costumes
• A Living Thing, a look at the design, modelling and construction of the Allerdale Hall sets
• Beware of Crimson Peak, a walking tour around Allerdale Hall with Tom Hiddleston
• Crimson Phantoms, a featurette on the film’s amazing ghosts
• Kim Newman on Crimson Peak and the Tradition of Gothic Romance, an interview with the author and critic
• Violence and Beauty in Guillermo del Toro’s Gothic Fairy Tale Films, a video essay by the writer Kat Ellinger
• Deleted scenes
• Image gallery
• Original trailers and TV spots
• Double-sided, foldout poster
• Four double-sided postcards
• Limited edition packaging designed by Crimson Peak concept artist Guy Davis
• Limited edition 80-page, hard-bound book featuring writing by David Jenkins and Simon Abrams, an archival interview with Guillermo del Toro, and original conceptual design illustrations by artists Guy Davis and Oscar Chichoni