Crimson Peak

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Fandom
Name: Crimson Peak
Abbreviation(s): CP
Creator: Guillermo del Toro
Date(s): October 16, 2015
Medium: Film
Country of Origin: United States
External Links: Crimson Peak at Wikipedia
Crimson Peak (2015) at IMDb
Crimson peak by anfirsova (2019)
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Crimson Peak is an American gothic romance film by Guillermo del Toro.

The gothic romance has been a popular trope in the book romance fandom for more than a century, but it is often considered too melodramatic for modern films. This movie unapologetically follows the traditional Gothic romance formula from the meeting the wrong man to the running from the house in a white night gown.

The dark subject matter, extravagant costuming, and use of popular actor Tom Hiddleston, made this an instant classic. The macabre, dreamy sets and horrifying creature design gives it the look of modern horror films while continuing to give primacy to the romance.

Canon

The film begins in New York in 1887. Following the death of her mother, young heiress Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is visited by her black, disfigured ghost who warns her "Beware Crimson Peak". Many years later in 1901, Edith is a budding writer, newly reunited with her childhood friend Dr Alan McMichael who has been travelling abroad. At the same time her father (Jim Beaver) is approached by an English Baronet, Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), who has come to New York with his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) to look for investors for a machine that mines clay. Edith's father rejects their proposal, but the Sharpe's have already ingratiated themselves in New York society and there is a budding romance between Edith and Thomas. Her father intervenes and bribes the Sharpe's to leave. Thomas rushes back to propose despite of this and Edith's father is killed on the same day. A quick marriage follows and the pair returns to England with Lucille to the family estate of Allerdale Hall - a dark, foreboding manor house that immediately sets Edith on edge. Her anxiety grows when she finds out the house is known colloquially as "Crimson Peak" for the red clay in the soil.

Back in the US, Alan tries to find out what happens to Edith's father while she begins to encounter ghostly presences in the house in England. Lucille's behaviour becomes colder and Edith becomes ill while she tries to unravel the mysteries of Allerdale Hall [1]

Fandom

This film has a small fanfiction presence, with 922 works on AO3 and 76 on ff.net as of May 4, 2025.

Most of the works follow the dark themes of the film and involve murder, incest, child abuse, and/or an exploration of the characters and their trauma, as well as a general gothic ambiance.

Tropes&Fanon

  • Pre-Canon: usually use to explore the childhood of Thomas and Lucille, especially that of Lucille, their trauma and how it shaped their relationship, set before the events of the film.
  • Everybody Lives/Thomas Sharpe Lives/Carter Cushing Lives: fics that undo canon deaths, most commonly that of Thomas.
  • Post-Canon: commonly used together with Everybody Lives/Thomas Sharpe Lives, set after the events of the film.
  • Crossovers or fusions: commonly with MCU, especially Loki due to the shared actor, and reader-inserts.
  • Edith Cushing/Thomas Sharpe/Lucille Sharpe: a trope where the three main characters enter into a polyamorous relationship.
  • Canon Divergence AUs

Pairings

Fanworks

Fics

Videos

Archives & Resources

References

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