5 Beautiful Gothic movies to watch this Halloween
SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 / Z.
Halloween, even in its earliest stages, is inherently Gothic. The Gothic tradition is full of collisions between the dead and living, the past and present, the natural and supernatural. Here are just a few Gothic films touch on these themes, and will set the mood for a haunting and beautiful Halloween!
The Innocents (1961).
Based on Henry Jamesâ 1898 novel The Turn of the Screw, this film is enthralling, beautifully shot, and delightfully creepy. The story follows a young governess stationed in a large Gothic estate, charged with looking after two children. While the kids start acting increasingly strange, she starts to see mysterious figures of a man and a woman throughout the grounds of the estate. The Innocents really is a must-see, though you wonât be able to get a certain melody out of your head after watching itâŠ
HÀxan: Witchcraft through the ages (1926).
Admittedly, I have a soft spot for 1920âs cinema, but even those of you who find silent film boring will be shocked by this one. HÀxan is a quasi-documentary on the history of witchcraft, with elaborate reenactments set during various points in history. Not surprisingly, most of the film focuses in Europe in the middle ages, and there is some amazing imagery in these scenes. If nothing else, make sure you watch the unforgettable âBlack Sabbathâ scene.
Rebecca (1940).
âLast Night I dreamed I was at Manderly againâ⊠Rebecca is a subtle chiller from Hitchcock that hits on all the major Gothic tropes: an old, creepy mansion on a cliff, a fair maiden inhabiting said mansion, recently married to a man who grows increasingly frightening, an evil housekeeper, a vengeful spirit that just wonât go away⊠you get the picture. Within the walls of the Manderly estate, the lines between the supernatural, bitter reality, and psychological breakdowns are masterfully blurred, making this a true classic in the Gothic genre.
Fall of the House of Usher (1926).
There have been several film adaptations of Poeâs short story, but Epsteinâs is the dreamiest, in my opinion. Beautiful, surreal shots through haunting bogs and cathedral like mansions are my cup of tea. The combination of the visuals with the eerie, melancholic Medieval-sounding score is perfect.
The Woman in Black (2012).
Though this is a recent horror film, its pacing and visuals are reminiscent of some of the the older films on this list. Itâs a classical Victorian ghost story thatâs beautiful to look at and is genuinely creepyâif you can get over the fact that Harry Potterâs in it and he has a son!
I hope you find a film or two on this list to be intriguing, if you have a favorite beautiful Gothic chiller you like watching around Halloween time!