Out of the many horror subgenres, Gothic horror is the most haunting and atmospheric (literally). These films feature meaningful themes of life and death, often delving into religion and philosophy, and there are many evil spirts hanging around beautiful old homes.
Whether looking back on older or more recent movies that have a Gothic atmosphere and feeling, Reddit fans have some excellent recommendations for scary, unsettling stories that will make fans of this subgenre very happy.
The Raven (2012)
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Redditor Horizon_Brave suggested The Raven where John Cusack "plays Edgar Allan Poe in a Victorian, dark London." Based on the poem of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe, which was published in 1845, the movie is about detective Emmett Fields, played by Luke Evans, who is trying to catch a killer.
There's a twist in the film: the killer commits murders inspired by the stories and characters that Poe writes about. Poe and Fields work together to see what's going on, a common trope in many horror movies, and the film definitely has the Gothic feeling that fans are seeking out.
The Woman In Black (2012)
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Redditor cavaleracons said "The Woman In Black" is a great Gothic horror movie and it's also a fan favorite Daniel Radcliffe film that isn't Harry Potter.
The movie has a perfectly creepy opening scene as three woman see something strange in their baby's rooms. The Woman In Black is set in London in 1906 and Radcliffe plays a lawyer named Arthur Kipps who is mourning the loss of his wife. He begins spending time at an old mansion in order to get some documents and discovers a paranormal presence.
The Crow (1994)
Stream on Paramount+
Redditor nikiverse said "The Crow and even the sequel" are great Gothic horror films, and fans consider the 1994 film to be Gothic neo-noir.
The Crow is definitely eerie, as a musician named Eric Draven dies and then comes back to life on Halloween. He wants to find who killed him and there's a creepy crow right there along with him, giving him the information that he needs. The film is intense and haunting.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Stream on Prime Video
One Redditor wrote in a thread about Gothic horror movies that it's "Not really underrated but many people don’t mention it: Rosemary’s Baby."
There are countless scary movies about apartment buildings and homes that are haunted, but in Rosemary's Baby, which has a famous New York City setting, Rosemary Woodhouse knows that moving to her new place was a massive mistake. After Rosemary becomes pregnant, she feels a weird presence, and the movie has a perfect sense of tension and a surprising ending.
The Black Cat (1934)
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Redditor SauzaPaul said "The Black Cat is pretty great," a pre-code film that was released in 1934. Joan and Peter Alison have just gotten married and after traveling by train, they get into a bus accident. Things only get stranger and more confusing from there.
Joan is hurt and soon becomes part of something that she and her husband never could have predicted. The film also has a perfect setting in Hjalmar Poelzig's old house.
The Hunger (1983)
Stream on HBO Max
Redditor teoweald said that The Hunger "Was big in its heyday, it's fallen into some obscurity now, but it's delightfully gothic." The movie is about Miriam Blaylock, a vampire, and John, an amazing cello player, who kill people together.
Since David Bowie plays John, it's fun to see the beloved musician in a horror film, and the combination of creepy tension and vampires makes this an entertaining watch. Gothic horror is often serious and weighty so it's fun to watch this comedy that still has the elements that fans love about these types of stories.
The Cursed (2021)
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Redditor danielthecameron suggested The Cursed, "New movie and beautifully shot." The Cursed is a 2021 horror movie that is a different take on a werewolf story.
The residents of a French village in the 1800s are horrified by a presence, and they never come right out and say that a werewolf is hunting them, but they know that there's a scary creature with fangs. The Cursed has a good sense of danger and tension throughout.
Crimson Peak (2015)
Stream on Netflix
Redditor necrotechnical mentioned that "gothic romance" has "a focus on Atmospheric horror and creep factor" and said that "Crimson Peak" has these elements.
Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, this popular film follows Thomas Sharpe and Edith Cushing, who get married and then begin living at a haunted mansion in England. Edith becomes physically affected by her new home and its supernatural presence. The movie is well-done with a pitch perfect cast and it also has a smart ending.
A Cure For Wellness (2017)
Rent on AppleTV
A modern horror movie with a Gothic horror feeling, Redditor HugoNebula recommended "A Cure For Wellness." It's also a good horror movie with a low Rotten Tomatoes score.
The film's setting is a strange spa in the Swiss Alps and it's clear from the start that something horrible is happening there and yet the people involved have been taken over and love being there. Gothic horror films discuss themes and it's interesting to think about what "wellness" and "health" really mean and if they can be taken too far.
The Little Stranger (2018)
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Most Gothic films feature a house that is absolutely falling apart and people who seem haunted by the supernatural, their memories, and the horrible things that have happened in the past. Redditor _Dresser-Drawer wrote, "Somebody just posted today about how The Little Stranger is a good recc for gothic/moody/atmospheric horror."
Adapted from the Sarah Waters novel, The Little Stranger is set at Hundreds Hall, a mansion in 19th century England. The spirit of Suki Ayers seems to haunt the house, and many terrible things begin happening there.