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Halloween may be over, but our love for all things gothic will never perish. Running through a dilapidated mansion in a ruffled penoire, wild holding a candelabra to find our long lost love sounds like the perfect afternoon, but unfortunately, we have to settle for fiction. You may already know about the best gothic books, and have Pinterest boards full of gothic fashion, but what about the movies?
Luckily, there’s no shortage of gothic movies out there. After Guillermo del Toro’s beloved movie Frankenstein came out, everyone wanted to find more that fit the vibe. But what makes a film gothic? Well, to achieve a gothic film, you have to obviously look at the fashion, the lighting, and more to make it fit the bill, but there’s more to it.
A gothic film has a combination of dark stories or elements that can fill you with dread. Gothic movies also rely on certain atmospheres like a dilapidated mansion or an isolated home, and then throw in some supernatural elements, and some romance on some level, and you got yourself a gothic film!
Think if romance and suspense made a brooding child that loves the macabre!
Along with Frankenstein, there are so many gorgeous goth films out there. Below, see our top goth movie picks:
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‘Frankenstein’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? It’s the classic Frankenstein story, but Guillermo del Toro’s version (and there are quite a few chances along the way)! We obviously had to put it in here!
What Makes it Goth? The Frankenstein story is a classic piece of Gothic literature, but the attention to detail in every single thing in this film ensured it remains a Gothic masterpiece.
Watch it on Netflix!
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‘Ginger Snaps’
Image Credit: ©Unapix Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? Teen girls have to deal with one of them being bitten by a deadly werewolf, along with the horror and changes that come with it.
What Makes it Goth? The main characters’ obsession with the macabre, plus the gothic clothing and feeling of alienation in a place where they don’t feel fully accepted.
Watch it on Tubi!
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‘May’
Image Credit: ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? May is an indie darling film that garnered a cult following; and for good reason! The 2002 movie follows an unconventional-looking girl who falls for the idea of looking perfect, and it all goes wrong when she meets a boy who has perfect hands.
What Makes it Goth? The concept of isolation is a big one, along with the macabre actions and dark setting!
Watch it on Tubi!
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‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’
Image Credit: ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? If you want a gothic musical, this is the one! It follows a biotech company that launches an organ-financing program with deadly consequences. The head of the company is dying, and he has to decide which of his offspring can take it all!
What Makes it Goth? The visual style of the setting in this movie is like steampunk meets dark Victorian, which is prime goth vibes! Plus, there are the goth rock songs, the dark, mutilation-themed concepts, and the feeling of despair throughout.
Watch it on Tubi!
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‘Dark Shadows’
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? Dark Shadows all starts with a count who falls in love with a beautiful woman, much to the chagrin of a witch who loved him (and cursed him to turn into a vampire). He rises again in the 1970s, determined to save his family, take down the witch, and be reunited with his love once again.
What Makes it Goth? All the supernatural elements! The Victorian atmosphere and clothing! The dramatic themes! It’s all gothic (just on the lighter side of it all)!
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘The Woman in Black’
Image Credit: CBS Films/Everett Collection What Is it About? Daniel Radcliffe stars as Arthur Kipps, a young widower and father, who goes to a remote village and realizes a vengeful spirit is terrorizing the local children.
What Makes it Goth? Not only are the technical aspects peak gothic, but the isolated haunted house, a vengeful ghost, and the violent deaths of children make it a very gothic horror flick.
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘The Moth Diaries’
Image Credit: ©IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? Starring Sarah Bolger and Lily Cole, this 2011 indie film follows Rebecca (Bolger) suspecting the new student, Ernessa (Cole), at an all-girls boarding school is a vampire, and is killing off her friends one-by-one.
What Makes it Goth? Not only are many elements directly parallel to the gothic novel Carmilla, but the supernatural ambiguity and all the elements that add to the fear like moths, mountains of blood, and confusing sexual scenes make it a gothic indie. Plus, there’s the psychological and emotional distress and romanticism in the storytelling!
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘Crimson Peak’
Image Credit: ©Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection What Is it About? A new bride has moved into a remote Victorian manor with her new husband and his all-too-close sister, where she tries to figure out the meaning behind all the ghostly visions she keeps getting.
What Makes it Goth? There’s obviously the setting, the ghostly apparitions, and the romanticism throughout, but there’s another element that’s quite uncomfortable (and gothic) but we won’t talk about it!
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’
Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? Starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves, this 1992 film is the perfect rendition of the classic Dracula tale!
What Makes it Goth? While all Dracula films have gothic elements, this one’s costuming and technical aspects push it over the edge into one of the most classic gothic films!
Watch it on Netflix!
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‘Sleepy Hollow’
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection What Is it About? The classic tale of Ichabod Crane looking for The Headless Horseman, but in the style of Tim Burton? Sign us up!
What Makes it Goth? The eeriness! The supernatural elements! The costumes?! Everything is peak gothic!
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘The Raven’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? This fantasy horror film, loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven, follows a magician, who has been turned into a raven, who looks to a former sorcerer for help.
What Makes it Goth? Besides the fact that the legendary Vincent Price is in it, the atmosphere and themes are classic 60s goth!
Watch it on Tubi!
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‘House of Wax’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? Another Vincent Price film in a gothic movie lineup? Groundbreaking! But no, seriously, this horror film is about an associate burning down a wax museum with the owner inside, but it all takes an even more killer twist!
What Makes it Goth? Let’s face it, the concept of a burning wax museum is quite gothic due to the themes of decay and twisted artistry! Plus the plot itself hits all the major points for gothic media.
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘The Orphanage’
Image Credit: ©Picturehouse/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? This is considered one of the best Gothic films of all time. It follows a woman who brings her family back to her childhood home with a haunted past, and within no time, her own son starts to deal with some supernatural incidents.
What Makes it Goth? The mix of the dread, isolation, and supernatural elements are what makes this movie shine!
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘Interview with the Vampire’
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? A vampire recounts his life story with the man who turned him and the girl they changed. It’s all about love and betrayal, also known as peak goth storylines!
What Makes it Goth? Anything Anne Rice is instantly gothic.
Watch it on Amazon!
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‘Nosferatu’
Image Credit: ©Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection What Is it About? If you’ve been looking for folk horror with gothic elements, this is it. It follows a haunted young woman and the vampire infatuated with her, who’s ready to ruin her life (and many others) in the process.
What Makes it Goth? All of it. Literally, all of it is gothic.
Watch it on Amazon!