Dark Academia Month: Dark Academia in Film
9 Post-Millenium Dark Academia Movies
Dark Academia is an aesthetic and vibe centering around higher education, literature, writing and poetry, secret scholarly societies, and an exploration of the darker aspects of human society through “the humanities.”
Each of these movies explores the darker side of our psyches, examines sociopolitical issues and identity, and pokes around in the shadowy recesses of humanity.
Note: All of the movies on this list have some troubling content and we’ve done our best to identify as much content as we can, so we recommend you check the listed Trigger Warnings before viewing.
The Riot Club
2014, Drama/Thriller, Rated R
Adapted from the stage play “Posh” by Laura Wade, this contemporary dark and frightening academia-centered drama takes a ruthless look at toxic masculinity. A group of privileged white male Oxford University students join a longstanding secret society and begin a downward spiral of violence and debauchery. It’s gross and violent, as the boys focus their energy and abuse under the savage cloak of immunity their wealth insulates them. It’s a really interesting deep dive into the darker side of high society, the apathy of the wealthy towards “lower class,” and the power of a hive-mind when combined with youthful feelings of “immortality” and toxic male values. It’s so melodramatic it often toes the line of Satire and Black Comedy, serving as a cheeky reminder that higher education and “class” don’t necessarily mean top notch morals and a sense of humility.
TW for substance abuse, vomiting, physical violence, hazing, sexual abuse, misogyny, classism, medical trauma, violence towards women, vandalism, narcissism.
Trailer:
The Dreamers
2013 Drama/Romance, Rated NC-17 or R
Matthew is an American exchange student in Paris who meets twins, Theo and Isabelle, and strikes up a very strange friendship with the pair. Their common love of Film and the Arts starts the trio off on an adventure in creative exploration and passion, but it isn’t long before Matthew notes something strange is at play here. The twins have a disturbingly close relationship, and are quite free and open with their sexuality and “perversions.” Matthew brushes all aside and takes up residence with the twins anyway, and they enjoy a frivolous, tumultuous time running through the streets of Paris and exploring romantic attachment. Parallel to their relationship woes, Paris is experiencing an uprising of students in political protest (inspired by real life demonstrations against capitalism, consumerism, imperialism, and traditional institutions, and the events of May 1968 in Paris, France). This is a very passionate, steamy and sexy piece of cinema. Due to the incestuous and sexually explicit nature of the dynamic of our three main characters, it may not be suitable for all viewers. It’s full of gaslighting and toxic relationships, and truly questionably abusive relationships. There is an attempted suicide and self harm, as well as very uncomfortable family dynamics. Overall, though, it's a strangely romantic and thoughtful look at intellectualism, the transition from youth to adulthood, and the political power of the arts and academia. Mostly, though, it’s just beautiful to look at and truly enchanting in an uncomfortable way. (This reviewer is still shocked at the fact a local theatre let myself and a girlfriend at the time be admitted without photo ID to an extremely explicit NC-17 Rated film. I mean, truly it was harder to get into a Rated R movie sometimes than it was at a bar!)
TW: incest, substance abuse, self harm, kink, gaslighting/manipulation, abusive relationships, neglectful parents, attempted suicide, political unrest and protest, explicit sexual content and full nudity
Trailer:
Selah and the Spades
2019, Drama, Rated R
Set against the backdrop of a very prestigious private school in Pennsylvania, this dark academia film explores the lives of high-school/college prep students and the politics of social circles. The social dynamic at this school is split into The Five Factions: The Sea, The Skins, The Bobbies, The Prefects and The Spades. Each of these so-called factions governs a different social realm of the boarding school, and new students are initiated according to their personality, interests, and perceived social power. Selah and the Spades are at the top of the food change of this mob-style political arena. It’s a very tense coming-of-age drama with darkly comedic overtones, bordering on the edge of a Gangster/Mafia Thriller. As with any high school, the factions are rife with conflict both within their inner-circles and as a whole ecosystem. Selah is doing her utmost to remain in her seat of power, but a series of miscalculations and mistakes threaten to see her dethroned. This one is a real slow-burn flick and is very character focused, so those with short attention spans may fare better with other picks on this list. But if you’re willing to lean into a sense of voyeurism and have a thirst for some calculated, manipulative, Gossip Girl level social hierarchy, then this might hit the spot. It’s refreshing also to see a movie set in Academia with a majority non-white cast, and Lovie Simone who plays the infamous Selah really gives it her all.
TW: Bullying, body image issues, social anxiety, underage sexual situations, teens drinking and using drugs, drugs without consent, peer pressure, smoking, physical violence and blood
Trailer:
Listicle by Ellen Avigliano
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