I don't see that myself. However, I do think he makes great fantasy features as I feel he has great imagination.
From the Hellboy franchise to the 3-time Oscar winner Pan's Labyrinth.
For Del Toro's ninth feature, we are heading to the late 19th century for a gothic romance with a few ghosts involved.
Despite being billed as a horror, this is definitely more like a romantic thriller that Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of.
With clear references to the classic Hammer horror flicks and some of Alfred Hitchcock's previous works (most notably, Rebecca),
A lot of the film and the style of the story-telling and even the editing is very old fashioned and seems really refreshing to see. There is definitely a lot of tension in our characters right through to the thrilling and sometimes unsettling climax.
The ending definitely leaves some questions open for discussion which is nice to see, unlike many other big budget features that like to wrap everything up into a neat bow.
I seem to love anything Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain do, and this film proves it. From Chastain's cold unwelcoming presence, to Hiddleston's terrific chemistry with lead Mia Wasikowska, these two are just a delight to watch.
As for Wasikowska I thought she was quite a weak lead. There was nothing wrong with the performance. But for me, I just felt that her character just did not go anywhere and therefore we lack the journey aspect to the film. For me, this film was more about Hiddleston and Chastain's journey.
Even with all the great performances, the star of the show is the haunted house we see in the second half of the film. The detailed level in the design and grandeur of it all is unreal. This surely has to be the favorite to win best set and production design at the Oscars, and possibly a nomination for the customers also.
I would be surprised if none of it was CGI and that the makers of the film actually made a house with such eeriness and magic. The cinematographer really showed every possible angle of it.
You may be seeing a lot of positives being mentioned. But I don't think they are strong enough for this film to be considered one of this year's best. The final act seems out of place, the story is not gripping or captivating enough for me to give a very good rating.
For the final act, it may have been quite exciting. But it was also sort of a bit under-whelming as it seemed to not match the tone and pacing of the rest of the film. It is also a bit predictable.
Despite what I said, it it still a gorgeous looking film and probably the best visuals of this year. With that in mind, I can forgive some things. It is by no means perfect, but it is definitely still worth watching as you can get a lot of fun out of this splendidly looking film with an intriguing character study
Rating: 7/10
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