Over the past 20 years Guillermo del Toro has haunted audiences with beautifully crafted films, endearing horror stories, and sometimes interesting science fiction films. Two years after "Pacific Rim," the director is back with an elegant Gothic love story elevated by its brilliant cast and its lavish production.

"Crimson Peak" tells the story of Edith (Mia Wasikowska), an aspiring author who is torn between love for her childhood friend (Charlie Hunnam) and the temptation of a mysterious outsider, Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). When she decides to marry Sharpe, she is swept away to a house where she discovers the mysteries of her new husband and his ambitious sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain).

Throughout months leading up to the release of the movie, marketing teams have made sure to emphasize the horror elements in the film including the various ghosts and the dark lighting. However, when one leaves the theater it will be surprising to realize this is far from a horror movie. Instead this is truly a love story with horror elements attached to it. As a matter of fact the movie is one of the most predictable films the director has made. Del Toro has clearly taken inspiration from some of his favorite Edgar Allan Poe stories and he has also taken cues from Alfred Hitchcock's "Notorious."

But that being said, its predictable and borrowed storyline is engaging as it thrusts audiences immediately into the story. In part this is due to Del Toro's meticulous sets and costumes. Costume designer Kate Hawley perfectly represents each character with her lavish and embellished patterns. For example Lucille is introduced in red and quickly moves into dark blues and blacks. Only once in the movie is she dressed in white, but that white is offset by her black hair.

Edith on the contrary is introduced with white and beige. However, when she enters the mansion her costumes change to grays, and to darker yellows emphasizing her loss of innocence and her maturation. Still the contrasts between Lucille and Edith make for an interesting play as the two woman are clearly in a struggle for the love of Thomas.

The sets also make this film come alive as each one is detailed to the most specific details including books, pens, and pans with which they eat. The mansion's dilapidated look contrasts with the lavish and luxurious looks of the sets in New York. The blacks in the mansion also contrasts to the yellows the New York sets have. The blood in the mansion also offsets the white snow from New York, and the refined streets of New York are contrasted with the barren landscapes in England.

Finally, ghosts have never looked so real and incredible scary. Edith's mother's ghost is a black skeleton that is covered in clothes. The fingers are also very realistic as they grab Edith in the very first scene of the film. The ghosts in the mansion are also interesting as they appear in many different shapes. But unlike the first ghost to appear, these are smeared with blood, and the faces are all disfigured. One of the ghosts has an axe across her face while another one carries a baby. Another ghosts appears out of the floor, which makes for a scary image.

The film is also elevated by its cast. While Mia Wasikowska is thrilling to watch, this clearly Jessica Chastain's film. Chastain is one of the most versatile actresses working today, and this is the second time she is able to play a "antagonistic" role (if one considers her character to be the antagonist in "A Most Violent Year"). From the moment she comes on screen, it is obvious she is up to no good. However, her silence makes her character unpredictable and difficult to understand. Her sudden outbreaks make for some thrilling and frightening moments while her facial expressions introduce a manipulative and calculative woman who knows what she's after.

Wasikowska continues to grow into a leading lady, and she relishes the horror element in the film as she convinces as a young and innocent girl who must confront her fears. Hiddleston is also brilliant in the film as he imbues a conflicted nobleman figure. This is not the classic lead but a far more compelling portrayal that really brings to light the complex relationship he has with two very different women. His sister brings out his more horrific tendencies, aspects of his character that he hopes to change in his relationship with Edith.

Overall this is not the movie audiences will expect from the trailers. And while it may not be Del Toro's best film to date, it is a truly satisfying and impeccably put together work of art.