Last week, Guillermo del Toro premiered his long awaited Frankenstein adaptation to a rapturous reception at the Venice International Film Festival. Del Toro’s latest film, a passion project years in the making, was already one of our most-anticipated horror movies of the year. Now it’s an absolute must-see.
That said, we still have a few weeks until the rest of the world gets to see Frankenstein. So, what should you watch until then? Fortunately, Prime Video just added one of Del Toro’s best films back to the streaming service, a Gothic masterpiece that’s a perfect Frankenstein companion.
Released a decade ago this fall, Crimson Peak is del Toro’s take on a classic Gothic Romance. It follows an American heiress named Edith (Mia Wasikowska) who falls for a handsome English nobleman (Tom Hiddleston) and moves into his crumbling mansion. There, a hole in the ceiling pours snow into the foyer, red clay turns the ground the color of blood, and ghosts roam, hinting at dark secrets. Ensnared in the house and its strangeness, Edith must uncover the mysteries of her new home while her husband and his jealous sister (Jessica Chastain) try to keep the past hidden.
Just as he did with Frankenstein, del Toro emphasized practical effects when creating Crimson Peak. The rotting manor house sets were real, the costumes were luxurious, and the ghosts were designed with del Toro’s careful eye for monsters. Like Frankenstein, it’s steeped in Gothic literature traditions, and it digs into the relationship of science to the supernatural. It’s also, of course, absolutely gorgeous, and features stunning performances, particularly from Chastain.
But you don’t just have to take my word for it on this one. Back in 2015, Dread Central’s Ari Drew called Crimson Peak “the grandest kind of movie-going experience” in his review, which you can read here. Stephen King, who knows a thing or two about the Gothic, is also a fan. In 2015, King called the movie “fucking terrifying,” and compared the experience to seeing The Evil Dead for the first time.
And while those reviews are from its release year, time has also been very kind to Crimson Peak. Its focus on sumptuous, textural detail makes it stand out as a practical masterpiece. It’s also one of Del Toro’s most mature, visually layered films. This is a guy who keeps an entire house just for his horror memorabilia, and you can see that kind of unbridled spooky glee on full display in this Gothic feast.
Crimson Peak is now streaming. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein arrives in theaters October 17, 2025.
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