From vampires to curses: 5 Gothic movies you can’t miss

Gothic fiction is originated in literature and has since become a genre in itself, particularly within horror.

The Gothic movies are characterized by their dark and spooky settings, like old mansions or castles, a pervasive sense of dread and psychological terror, supernatural elements, and themes of the past haunting the present, buried secrets, madness, and the dark side of human nature.

We have listed here 5 Gothic movies that are worth watching if you haven’t watched them yet. Let’s begin:

Nosferatu (2024)

A classic horror-based Gothic movie remake of the film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), which was in turn inspired by Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897). Directed by Robert Eggers, starring Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, and Willem Dafoe.

The story is based on a woman named Ellen once haunted by a terrifying vision as a child, by a blood thirsty Vampire. Ellen, who grew up in Wisborg, Germany, gets married to Thomas Hutter, an estate agent. 

Thomas travels to Transylvania to sell a castle to the mysterious Count Orlok, despite Ellen’s warnings.

In Orlok’s castle, Thomas discovers that Count Orlok is a vampire who becomes obsessed with Ellen. After a narrow escape, Thomas rushes home to warn her. Meanwhile, Orlok brings plague-filled rats to Wisborg, spreading death as he comes out to chase Ellen.

Underworld (2003)

The movie stars Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Erwin Leder, and Bill Nighy. For centuries, vampires and werewolves (called Lycans) have been at war. Selene, a vampire fighter, discovers the Lycans are hunting a human doctor named Michael for a hidden reason.

The plot is focused on the history of vampires and lycans. When Michael is bitten, he stands between both worlds. Selene breaks her own rules to protect him and uncovers a plan that could end the war or change it forever. The story follows Selene tracking the Lycans, exposing lies inside her vampire clan, and choosing whether to save Michael or obey the coven.

Van Helsing (2004)

The movie is written and directed by Stephen Sommers starring Hugh Jackman as monster hunter Van Helsing and Kate Beckinsale as Anna Valerious.

The story revolves around a Monster hunter, Gabriel Van Helsing, who is sent by the Vatican to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula. 

There, he joins Princess Anna Valerious, whose family has tried and failed to kill Dracula for generations. Van Helsing learns that Dracula needs Dr. Frankenstein’s creation for a dark experiment to give life to his own offspring.

Dark Shadows (2012)

The movie stars Johnny Depp, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green. In the 1700s, wealthy Barnabas Collins is cursed by a jealous witch and turned into a vampire, then buried alive.

He wakes up in 1972 to find his family business broken and their mansion fading. The story is a clash: an old vampire trying to save his family while a vengeful witch tightens the net.

Blade (1998)

The film stars Wesley Snipes as the titular character with Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, and N'Bushe Wright in supporting roles.

The story is about a man named Blade, born half-human and half-vampire. He is a powerful warrior with vampire strengths but none of their weaknesses, except the thirst for blood, which he controls with a serum. 

Trained to hunt vampires, Blade wages war against Deacon Frost, a powerful vampire who seeks to awaken an ancient blood god. 

As Frost’s plan threatens to unleash chaos on humanity, Blade becomes the only force standing in the way. The story is a relentless fight filled with sword battles, blood rituals, and the struggle of a man caught between two worlds.