'Crimson Peak' Sequence Analysis

Guillermo del Toro uses a range of horror conventions in order to make the audience feel uncomfortable and frightened throughout the sequence. The first shot we see is a mid shot of the character as she is startled awake in the middle of the night, the director uses low-key lighting to show that it is night and add a sense of uneasiness as we are unable to see her surroundings clearly, therefore we are unsure of whether the character is in danger or not.

As the character leaves her room to investigate the cause of her dog's barking, a mid tracking shot is used from behind the character to show the audience what she is seeing without having to use a perspective shot and interrupt the flow of the scene. By doing this, the viewer is unable to see a large portion of the area as our view is blocked by the girl, giving the impression that something could jump out from outside the view we have been given as well as building suspense and paranoia. Here, the audience is shown the shadowy and gothic stairwell of the house as leaves fall from above, giving the sense that the house is old and unkempt; a conventional location for the horror genre.

After this, the camera tracks the character as she walks down a dark and narrow corridor, making the viewer feel claustrophobic and nervous as we are unable to see what it in front of her. By controlling and restricting what we are able to see, Guillermo del Toro creates tension and fear as the audience anticipates a scare.

The use of ambience is implemented throughout the sequence in order to convey the vast emptiness of the house; wind, creaking and banging can be heard at various points in the scene which suggests that the house is large and a threat could be hiding anywhere within the building. By showing tight spaces such as the corridor but then inferring large empty spaces beyond view using ambient sounds, the film triggers multiple fear responses from the audience as both extremes are used.

The film considers the pace of cuts and editing at different points in the sequence so that it is appropriate for the action taking place at the given moment. For example, at the beginning of the sequence, the editing is slow and there are very few cuts; almost using one continuous mid shot that follows the character for the first half of the sequence. This helps to build tension as we are able to see the character turn every corner and view the house from a perspective that is close to her own. However, once the monster appears and begins to chase the girl, the cuts become quicker and more frequent; inducing panic in the viewer as she runs down the corridor trying to escape. During this part, the girl enters an elevator and we are shown it travelling downwards slowly until it reaches the next floor. This is a common device used in many horror films as suspense and tension are built waiting for the door to close in time, during the slow and agonising descent and then whilst we wait to see if danger is waiting for the character on the other side once the doors open. In addition to this, many people have a fear of elevators and it provides an opportunity to put the character in another claustrophobic space.

The mise-en-scene would suggest that the film takes place in Victorian times due to the gothic and large architecture of the house, the white gown that the girl is wearing and the fact that she is seen holding a candlestick throughout the scene, which could represent hope and purity in contrast to the darkness and moonlight around her, this gives the impression that the film takes place in the past or in a fictional time. The use of a light source in this way is conventional of many horror films; protagonists will often carry a torch or candle to symbolise that they are the light and good in the film opposed to the darkness and evil of the antagonist. Furthermore, by choosing to give the character a candle to hold, the director is able to selectively illuminate different parts of the scene according to what they would like the audience to focus on, this is done in combination to a close-up shot. For example, when the girl examines the contents of the box inside the cupboard after the ghost pulled the door shut, or when she reads the word ‘enola’ on the locked chest in the lower floor. By doing this, the film is able to show that these objects and details have some greater importance in the course of the film.