Inspired by classical gothic horror, director Guillermo Del Toro set out to tell a ghost story that would be different from the found footage and B-movie budget horror movies that are churned out by the dozen. “Crimson Peak” sets out in doing just that.

After the death of her mother, young Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) receives a warning from the ghost of her mother, ‘Beware Crimson Peak.’ Years later, she meets and falls in love with Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) who whisks her away to his home. Sharpe lives in Allerdale Hall with his sister. Soon Edith is pulled into the mystery of the Sharpes and comes to understand the meaning of her mother’s warning.

“Crimson Peak” is a lot of fun. Despite its surprisingly violent moments and jump scares, the predictability of the plot and beautiful imagery are what make this such an entertaining film.

This predictability aspect came out in the major aspects of the film, but not in he minor details. It plays out in the way a gothic romance horror story should; it’s because these tropes are pulled off so well and with such visual creativity and relish that it makes “Crimson Peak” a fun, spooky, haunted house ride at a theme park. But just as theme park rides have their bumps and rough spots, so does this film.

The acting and script can be cheesy and thin at some points. Most of the scary scenes consist of jump scares, creepy figures and spooky images. But when they do happen, they are effective.

The strongest point of “Crimson Peak” is its visual direction. The opening shot after the prologue looks like a moving old photograph, including browns and faded whites. Allerdale Hall is a particularly marvelous set piece to look at, looking like a gothic beauty on the inside and out.

As expected from Del Toro, “Crimson Peak” is another film from him that allows him to play with his creative strengths. The Gothic romance horror feeling is captured magnificently. If only the script and acting were a bit tighter, this would be a tale I would visit again and again. But for what it’s worth, “Crimson Peak” is good for a watch or two.