Victorian-Era Horror Films Are a Feast For The Senses

Today on the Blog,
Regi is regaling us with her picks for some of the best Victorian Themed Horror in celebration of “Inheriting Her Ghosts Week.”

Crimson Peak (2015)

I love Guillermo del Toro. His sense of aesthetic is so unique, you can instantly tell when he’s been involved in a project or not. Crimson Peak is not his most popular film, but the sumptuous colors prove to be a feast for the eyes. The overall plot is akin to Bluebeard with a few more modern, gory twists, and the addition of Tom Hiddleston.

The Innocents (1961)

One of the quintessential classic horror films that all horror buffs should watch. Based on The Turn of The Screw by Henry James, the film takes a bit of a detour from the book in that the book was a bit more ambiguous with regards to the children. Are they actually possessed by their former governess and groundskeeper? Or are they truly just that odd? The movie leans more heavily on the possession side of things, but there’s enough wiggle room for debate.

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

The critical darling of New Wave Australian film, Picnic at Hanging Rock toes the line at reality and dream. During a picnic excursion out in Victoria, Australia, three students and an instructor mysteriously vanish, causing a flurry of finger-pointing in the small town. The set is organic, making use of the natural environment as much as possible without relying on soundstage theatrics. It’s so dreamlike you’ll wonder if the movie itself is even real.

Dracula (1992)

I’ll be honest, I’m including this film more out of my love of Keanu Reeves than for the overall plot of the movie. Yes, the set design is amazing. Yes, it’s an all-star cast. But Keanu Reeves!! The defense rests, your honor. 

The Woman in Black (2012)

The highest-grossing British horror movie in 20 years at the time of its release, The Woman in Black is exactly what you want from a gothic Victorian-era film. It’s excessively monochromatic, the house is a massive structure stuck in the middle of a marsh that frequently floods out the roads, and you have a morose widower and his child shoved there for plot reasons. What’s not to love?

Listicle by Regi
Twitter: @IgnatiaStrigha