“I wanted to make a movie where he is guilty”: Guillermo del Toro Quietly Changed a Gothic Tradition in His Underrated Movie That You Missed

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Movie director Guillermo del Toro is famous for crafting chilling gothic horror films that have shaped the genre over a span of more than two decades. Beginning with independent productions, he eventually garnered an Oscar and produced commercially successful movies. Yet, among his works, there exists one film that often goes unnoticed or underappreciated, particularly because it pushes the boundaries of genre expectations.

During an interview, Guillermo del Toro discussed his involvement in the 2015 gothic romance film “Crimson Peak.” The director shared that his aim with the film was consistently to subvert a typical aspect of the gothic genre which had long been established as tradition. As a result, del Toro created one of the most poignantly underrated horror movies, and this is what he had to express about it.

Guillermo del Toro wanted to flip a gothic trope with Crimson Peak

As a fervent admirer, I’d like to share that it was none other than the brilliant Guillermo del Toro who masterfully directed the 2015 gothic love story, “Crimson Peak.” Starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain, this film captivated both critics and audiences alike. However, despite its critical acclaim, it didn’t quite manage to make a significant impact at the box office.

In an interview with Little White Lies, Guillermo del Toro discussed his approach to directing the movie “Crimson Peak,” mentioning how he aimed to challenge some common aspects of the gothic horror genre. Specifically, the director expressed that instead of following the traditional pattern, he intended to twist the stereotype of the pure hero in the film.

As a devoted admirer, I was eager to create a film where the enigmatic anti-hero, despite his ominous demeanor, carries the burden of guilt and complicity. However, it turns out that he has been wrongly acquitted of all charges.

Guillermo del Toro offered an explanation for how he approached the character development of Thomas Sharpe in the movie, particularly focusing on the twist where his dark secret challenges and subverts traditional male character tropes.

In essence, the director who won an Oscar aimed to break free from the conventional narrative structure of the gothic genre by infusing a subtext of love, but this approach yielded varying reactions. Consequently, it can be concluded that although Crimson Peak offers something fresh, it is unfortunately often overlooked in his body of work.

Guillermo del Toro explained why Crimson Peak is extremely tragic

During the same interview, Del Toro explained that the film’s narrative was one of the most poignantly sad stories he has worked on. Interestingly, while it follows the general layout of a gothic horror film, its core message is actually about love.

In the same interview, Del Toro shared why this movie had such a sad storyline for him. Despite being a horror movie, it’s main theme revolves around love.

Additionally, del Toro mentioned that unlike his previous films like Pan’s Labyrinth which had beautiful but melancholic conclusions, Crimson Peak’s ending was more sorrowful as he wished to investigate the notion that spirits are merely unresolved issues from the past that haunt the characters.

In my perspective, a Gothic romance revolves around the idea that I’m stuck, unable to progress towards the future, until I untangle the mysteries of my past.

In the statement above, it was revealed that the director of “Pacific Rim” chose a heartrending finale for the 2015 movie, which he explained himself.

Furthermore, Del Toro perceived that at first glance, Crimson Peak seemed a deeply melancholic movie with fearsome antagonists. Yet, the narrative of love is intricately woven into its characters, giving them humanity despite their shortcomings, enabling viewers to empathize deeply with their plight and recognize elements of their own sorrow.

Crimson Peak is streaming on Peacock.

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2025-02-21 14:34