Photos: Behind the Scenes of Crimson Peak

“I’m in the cellar of the house with Mia Wasikowska, who plays Edith, filming one of the last scenes. This staircase goes from the red-clay mines to the grounds outside, where there’s a winter storm. The movie is incredibly baroque, textured, and detailed, so I wanted it to end in a white limbo of snow.”

Courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.

“The characters I relate to most are the bad guys. Jessica Chastain (above) plays Lucille, who to me is a very, very sad character. You’re afraid of her, but at the end of the day you understand her. Courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.

Courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.

Courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.

Tom Hiddleston plays Thomas, who is incredibly tortured and does horrible things, but you still also feel for him.” Courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.

“The decorated ceiling in Edith’s bedroom (above) is based on a detail taken from actual Victorian houses. I love that it looks like thorns, because we wanted it to feel as if the house were about to pin the characters down. This house has teeth; the motif of eyes and mouths runs throughout.” Courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.

Courtesy of Kerry Hayes/Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.

Courtesy of Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures.