8 Best Gothic Romance Movies

Although Gothic architecture has been around since the Middle Ages, the subgenres of gothic romance did not spawn until the 18th century, with the 1764 novel, The Castle of Otranto. Since then, gothic romance has evolved into poems, books and some of the best, most complex love stories ever put on film.

From the creative minds of Alfred Hitchcock to Guillermo del Toro, these gothic romances take place in surreal, fairytale-like castles in gloomy atmospheres. Despite the wonderful romances that occur, there’s always a sense of mystery and unease woven into the narrative.

8

Dark Shadows

2012

Tim Burton does what he does best in 2012’s Dark Shadows, enchanting his audience with his distinct brand of the magical mixed with the supernatural. The film focuses on the vampire Barnabas Collins, but it’s not as violent or gory as expected from a vampire movie, and instead injects moments of wit and humour into the story that makes it a delight to watch.

Dark Shadows sees the return of Barnabas Collins, a man who’d been cursed and turned into a vampire by a spurned ex-lover, the witch Angelique. He goes back to his family estate of Collinwood Manor and meets the descendants of the Collins family, as well as their new governess, Maggie, who is the incarnation of his deceased love, Josette. Barnabas draws the ire of Angelique after rejecting her again and prepares himself for a fated showdown.

7

Crimson Peak

2015

A gothic horror romance by the master of the beautiful and the macabre, Guillermo del Toro, Crimson Peak is the quintessential ghost story mixed with romantic tragedy, murder and revenge. Bolstered by an A-list, ultra-talented cast in Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain, Crimson Peak is a movie that treats you to stunning visuals through its setpieces, costumes and even the concept design of its ghosts.

Naturally, the love story in gothic romances is complex, with one side hiding dark secrets from the other. This is what protagonist Edith Cushing faces when she meets the dashing baron Thomas Sharpe. She marries him and moves to live with him in his crumbling family estate, Allerdale Hall, where his sister, the icy Lucille, also resides. However, the ghosts of the castle seem to target Edith, and though they may seem like they have a bone to pick with her, she later discovers they’ve been trying to warn her about the nefarious nature of the Sharpe siblings.

6

Only Lovers Left Alive

2013

You would expect vampire films to be gory with plenty of action, but Only Lovers Left Alive turns the vampire genre on its head. Although the story focuses on the long-time relationship between two ancient vampires, Adam and Eve, the film reads more like a slow romance drama than an action flick.

Only Lovers Left Alive scores high points with its camerawork, dark, atmospheric settings and dialogue. The film explores the mature romance between Adam and Eve, as well as the troubles and states of mind that come with living an immortal existence. While Adam and Eve are largely at peace with their life in Detroit, the arrival of Eve’s chaotic and uncontrollable sister Ava threatens to overturn the life the couple has built.

5

Suspicion

1941

An Alfred Hitchcock classic, 1941’s Suspicion is an adaptation of the 1932 romance thriller novel, Before The Fact. Starring Hollywood legends Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, what was initially thought to be a sweet romance swiftly turns dark. Grant does a smashing portrayal of the film’s main male lead and villain, Johnnie, a handsome, charismatic rake that we gradually grow to dislike as he shows his true colours.

The story follows Joan Fontain’s character, the naive Lina, who swiftly falls in love with the charms of Johnnie. Although the two marry in secret, Lina gradually realises she does not know the man she married, as he either lies or omits things about himself and his actions. Broke, a gambler and unable to hold down a job, Johnnie makes no secret that he intends to live off of Lina’s family fortune, and Lina grows ever more paranoid that her husband will kill her to get her money.

4

Edward Scissorhands

1990

Edward Scissorhands is the definition of the unconventional yet impossible love between an unfinished android and a living girl. The movie holds a deep, impactful message, that, despite Edward’s strange, uncanny appearance, it’s the ‘normal-looking’ people (minus the Boggs family) around him that act monstrously.

After his inventor dies, Edward Scissorhands is taken in by the kindly Boggs family, who live in your average middle-class neighbourhood. He falls in love with Kim Boggs, the daughter of the family, but his isolation, kindness and naivety make him fall victim to the cruelties of their neighbours. Although the movie has a sad, bittersweet ending, the film delivers its themes of morality and kindness exceptionally, boosted by Johnny Depp’s spectacular portrayal of the pure-hearted android.

3

Wuthering Heights

1939

A smashing adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel of the same name, 1939’s Wuthering Heights is a tragic story of lost love and missed chances. Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon bring the doomed romance of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw to life with their passionate performances.

The film follows the story of Heathcliff, who lived with the Earnshaws after he was taken in by the head of the family. He grows to love Catherine Earnshaw, though class differences and a misunderstanding drive Heathcliff away, and Catherine ends up marrying another. Although Heathcliff returns a wealthy man and buys the palatial manor of Wuthering Heights, his love for Catherine endures, though the next set of events wrench them apart in this gripping love story.

2

Rebecca

1940

Starring two Old Hollywood greats, Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, Rebecca continues to prove Alfred Hitchcock’s talent for telling compelling stories with equally compelling characters. Although the romance between Olivier’s Maxim de Winters and Fontaine’s Mrs de Winters was the central focus of the story, Rebecca is a blend of mystery thriller and a surprising murder conspiracy at the end.

After a whirlwind romance between the wealthy, recently widowed Maxim and Fontaine’s unnamed character, the new Mrs de Winters moves into the Manderley estate. However, the shadow of Maxim’s late wife, Rebecca, haunts the manor, and Mrs de Winters struggles to fit in with high society. There are also elements of mystery surrounding Rebecca’s death, which comes as a shocker when Maxim reveals nothing is as the new Mrs de Winters had assumed.

1

Corpse Bride

2005

One of the greatest stop-motion musical films ever made, Tim Burton outdid himself with 2005’s Corpse Bride. A tragically beautiful tale, the film’s animation style is top-notch and defines the morbid, gothic atmosphere of its Victorian Era setting, paired with a memorable music score.

Corpse Bride tells the story of Victor van Dort, a young heir to a wealthy family, who is set to marry a noblewoman named Victoria. However, things go awry when Victor is dragged to the realm of the dead after accidentally marrying Emily, a murdered bride. Although Victoria is the woman Victor loves, we grow to sympathise with Emily and her desire to marry her true love, something denied to her in life. The film also funnily points out how much livelier the dead are than the living while driving home its themes of love, compassion and selflessness.