A Gothic Horror / Dark Romanticism Movie Playlist

Picks for a Gothic Horror / Dark Romanticism Movie Night

For when you're feeling the mood for something as horrific as it is mesmerizing. 

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Sleepy Hollow (1999) 

This is one of those movies that has CGI that today seems laughable, but which still delivers on its strange, yet fascinating storyline. In true gothic horror fashion, the story features an oddball protagonist, a gloomy village setting, a supernatural evil, a character that represents all that is pure and innocent, and of course a secret past that the protagonist must unlock in order to gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. A little on the icky side in terms of the gore.

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The Wolfman (2010)

A remake of an older movie, this version of The Wolfman has some stunning cinematics. Set in a beautiful, remote, and also very gloomy mansion and its surroundings, the story focuses on a young man returned home for the funeral of his brother, who has been murdered by some kind of animal... or, if you believe the locals, a werewolf. Rich in atmosphere and a top-notch cast, it's an enjoyable and solid remake, with perhaps a little too much gore and graphic violence. 

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Nosferatu (1922)

This silent film features a film crew that sets out to a remote castle owned by a rather scary-looking count. The crew realizes the count is in fact a resident evil that wants to feed. For me, part of the allure of the movie is simply the way that movies were acted out back in the day - the over-the-top gesturing, the heavy makeup, the silence. It creates an atmosphere that lends itself superbly to a gothic horror.

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Crimson Peak (2015)

Virtuous young woman marries mysterious brooding male character, and then moves in with him and his strangely hostile sister only to start experiencing a host of supernatural activity that might point towards something sinister to do with her new husband and his sister... This movie hits all the hallmarks of gothic horror, with the added benefit of a unique and fascinating setting that seems to come alive as a character of its own - and, of course, with an added shocking revelation about the true nature of the family our young protagonist has married into.  

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Dragonwyck (1946)

Once again, the tried and true formula for gothic romance - I mean, gothic horror (is there a difference, really?). Virtuous young woman marries mysterious brooding male character, and then moves in with him. Sound familiar? She stars experiencing some supernatural activity, but mostly she realizes that her husband is particularly hateful and prideful, and locks himself away for hours on end in order to do... something. And also his previous wife died of mysterious circumstances. Nothing to see here, just the usual gothic horror setup! A fun movie that leans a little less heavily on the supernatural and more on the vice of man. 

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