10 Best Gothic Horror Films

The scariest thing about this film when it was announced was the realisation of Harry Potter fans that they and Daniel Radcliffe were getting old. Then the film actually came out, and oh my god, was it so much better than anyone expected.

Based off Susan Hill’s novel and the award-winning stage production of the same name, this film had huge scary shoes to fill. During an era that had just shaken off torture porn and jumpscares, this film was a welcoming breath of fresh air. A terrifying, atmosphere drenched breath of fresh air at least.

Following Arthur Kipps trying to unravel the mystery behind Eel Marsh House is a nail-biting, arse-clenching slow burn from start to finish. I mean, opening a film with three children committing suicide is certainly one way to grab the attention of your audience.

Not not only is the horror there in its violence, but the gothic-ness of it all is ramped right up to eleven. The foggy marshes and dilapidated house is the perfect setting for ghostly lurkings, and the titular woman is a terrifying force of evil who you do oddly feel sorry for. Right before she scares the living daylights out of you again.

The audience is as alone as Arthur, and the films plays on this idea to absolute effect. Especially when the viewer is shown the woman to be lurking in the background when Arthur doesn’t even know she’s there, making you feel truly isolated.

This film captures the perfect elements of gothic horror and absolutely embraces them to an extent that never comes across as campy or too much. It’s sad, scary and genuinely stunning – which I think most goths would love to emulate.