Guillermo del Toro is one of my favourite directors. Only a few years ago, while at Fan Expo in Toronto, I had the opportunity to meet him in person. Unaware of his guest appearance, I had a fleeting chance encounter in the hallway outside the exhibition space – I recognized him straight away though his back was to turned to me, and I immediately launched into a knee-jerk fan-girl quiver on the spot. Those around me in the hallway did not notice the filmmaker only steps away, so I’d like to think I was in my own special bubble when I caught this peek of him – magic moments, you guys.

Later on, when it was announced on the garbled PA that he was a special guest, I extended my elbows out and launched myself towards the Rue Morgue table where he would be signing autographs; I was prepared to bowl people over to ensure that his pen scrawled itself across a souvenir, just for me. Of course, when it came my turn, I babbled the usual sort of adoration of his work, and managed to squeak out that I had given a paper on his films, leaving no impression, I’m sure, but thrilling myself with the encounter nonetheless.

Needless to say, I look forward to his films, the latest of which is Crimson Peak (2015), a gothic tale featuring an impressive cast of excellent talent: Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, and Mia Wasikowska, among others (including a few of the familiar del Toro collaborators).

Here’s the trailer – join me in anticipation for this film and share in the love of this haunting cover of Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand”!