Marcus Flor vs Crimson Peak

If you want yourself a spooky ghost story, I'd recommend avoiding Crimson Peak.

Yes, on paper it definitely sounds like your typical gothic tale, what with the specters, dark romance, and cavernous old mansion to boot. However, in actuality, this movie is neither spooky or potently romantic. Director Guillermo del Toro seems to have take a very grandiose cinematic approach to this story, and I don't think it paid off.

Perhaps, in an attempt to make this horror story more mainstream, del Toro tries to give his movie a sense of epic scale. This means lots of expansive sets, tons of extras running around in the background, and several CG ghosts that love the spotlight. It's all a lot of unnecessary flare that distracts from what should be a much more intimate story.

The core of this narrative is its romance, but none of the cinematography emphasizes it. Almost every scene is cleanly lit and given fairly standard coverage; giving very few visual hints to what our characters are going through. If you watched this on mute, you'd only have a vague idea of how everyone really feels about each other.

I'm a big fan of Guillermo, but barring a few interesting moments, this is a pretty mediocre movie. Watch this back to back with The Woman in Black to see how gothic horror should be done. I'd call this one a Bad.

Comments

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ". I know I remember them. This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present. With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good. It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters. This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's. In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking. I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e...

Grace Victoria Patterson returns

What's this? Two podcasts From The Basement in less than nine months? Has the world gone mad!?! No, but when past Basement guest Grace Victoria Patterson asked nicely if she could return to this fine podcast, Jason and Shawn -- agreeable sorts that they are -- said yes. Hence we have this new episode for your ear holes! Grace provides an update on her career, which has seen the cheerleader-turned-actress appear in no fewer than eight films plus a TV series, with more projects on the way. She and Jason talk all about this, plus some other stuff. What kind of stuff? Stick with us! And stay tuned, as The Basement Boys discuss a whole slew of movies and television, including the Netflix Jimmy Savile documentary, The Batman, the horror romp The Cellar and more! It's podcasting that's so awesome, you'll be awesomed out by its awesomeness! What are you waiting for? Push play and enjoy!

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo...

Search This Blog