Guillermo del Toro has gone back to his roots to come up with another horror thriller "Crimson Peak" which was inspired by his stay in a hotel in New Zealand. The cast and crew, including the director himself, shares behind the scenes and thoughts about the set. As for Charlie Hunnam, he talks about his role as Dr. McMichael.
Stuff.co.nz reported that Guillermo del Toro's "Crimson Peak" movie was inspired by his stay in a Waikito hotel in New Zealand. Del Toro was scouting for locations for the Hobbit trilogy when he was told by ghost aficionados that there was a haunted hotel in New Zealand. It had a grand Victorian-style which was built in 1908. Del Toro was still able to convince the hotel owners to open the hotel for them even if it was closed. His edge was his directing of the Hobbit. He says "Peter and The Hobbit are national treasures in New Zealand."
The director had two ghost experiences in his life which were replicated in the film. One was the spine-chilling screams he heard while staying in the Waikito hotel which apparently were murder screams from the bathtub. The other one was when a ghost visited young Edith (Mia Wasikowska) while lying in bed. This experience was the same as that of del Toro's mother when she was a child.
Entertainment Weekly shared a behind-the-scenes video regarding the on-set construction of the mansion shown in "Crimson Peak." The website also shared what the actors as well as the crew and del Toro thought about it. Tom Hiddleston, who plays Sir Thomas Sharpe, said that this was the biggest set he has ever been on in his life and that it was an amazing piece of work. Guillermo del Toro says that he wanted a house that was beautiful and represented the ghosts of the past at the same time. The custom-designed set was created by production designer Tom Sanders and art director Brandt Gordon.
Charlie Hunnam shared his thoughts about his role as a "more thoughtful and quiet, a sensitive and smart guy" as reported by Inquirer Pop. He added that it was a nice surprise to have been considered for that particular role in "Crimson Peak." Hunnam plays the perfect gentleman, Dr. Alan McMichael, who is a brilliant ophthalmologist. Charlie said that del Toro emailed him the script and the character that he would be playing after they have finished filming "Pacific Rim." He said the role was distinctly different from his past roles as an antagonist. Del Toro told him to just be true to himself and that he to maintain his spirit, energy and movements just as they were.
"Crimson Peak" is set to be shown in theaters on the second week of October. Guillermo del Toro's inspiration from his hotel stay in New Zealand hopefully will recreate the chills that every moviegoer expects. Aside from that, the set as well as the characters will also do their magic.
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