In the middle of the last decade, the Oscar-winning Mexican director, Guillermo del Toro, released ‘The Scarlet Summit’ (2015), where the director immerses us in a gothic and romantic universe whose plot is set at the beginning of the 20th century and where the ghosts of the past lurk in every corner of a haunted mansion. The film’s story follows Edith Cushing, played by Mia Wasikowska, a young aspiring writer in Victorian England, whose destiny becomes intertwined with that of two mysterious siblings: Sir Thomas Sharpe, played by Tom Hiddleston, and Lady Lucille Sharpe. , played by Jessica Chanstain. As Edith delves deeper into the dark history of the Sharpes and their home, Allerdale Hall, she uncovers secrets that challenge her own perception of reality, confronting supernatural terrors and a conspiracy of betrayal and revenge. The film is currently available in the Netflix catalog.
Regarding awards and nominations, ‘The Scarlet Summit’ received virtually no attention on the film awards circuit internationally, where he failed to achieve mass recognition. The only award the film aspired to was awarded by the Chicago Film Critics Association in the category of Best Art Direction. Finally, the award in the aforementioned category went to ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015), by George Miller, so ‘Scarlet Summit’ left empty-handed.
One of the most interesting elements of the film are its technical aspects. Guillermo del Toro creates a unique gothic atmosphere, with impeccable art direction and detailed production design. Allerdale Hall becomes a character in itself, with its dark hallways, decay and macabre beauty. The visual effects, especially in the ghost sequences and the house itself, are impressive, immersing the viewer in a nightmarish world. The soundtrack is provided by the Spanish composer Fernando Velázquez, who perfectly complements the atmosphere, adding tension and drama to each scene.
The cast of ‘The Scarlet Summit’ is headed by the Australian actress Mia Wasikowskaduly supported by highly skilled interpreters such as Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston or Charlie Hunnam. Guillermo del Toro once again has his favorite actor, Doug Jones, in the cast and it is also worth highlighting the participation of the Spanish actor Javier Botet. Mia Wasikowska plays Edith with a mix of vulnerability and determination, while Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston bring the enigmatic Sharpe siblings to life with palpable intensity.
Fotogramas’ critics of ‘The Scarlet Summit’ praised its “fascinating production design” and assured that “we must not be fooled by the elegance of its staging, nor by the delicate features of a Mia Wasikowska in a permanent state of grace. We are looking at a film with very bad Bava (by Mario), in which dry leaves rain from the sky as soon as a steel dagger is stabbed in our cheek. Rare in a genre obsessed with found footage, the daring of this film consists of stating, from minute 1, that ghosts exist and dwell in the depths of our fears. It is the vindication of the classic in an era in which terror seems to have lost any hint of innocence.”.
