Your Fall Movie List
We’re halfway through October! Where I live, the weather has only very recently started showing the signs of fall—the orange maple trees a flame behind the veil of the cool, foggy mornings. It’s the season for cozy indoor activities: for making mulled wine and hot apple cider and curling up with a blanket and a great movie. And with that I give you my list of 10 of the best gothic movies for fall to inspire your cozy viewing.
The Interview with the Vampire
The Interview with the Vampire is Anne Rice’s tale of vampires Louis and Lestat and their adopted daughter Claudia. From the French Quarter of New Orleans to the streets of Paris, this movie has all of the dark beauty of the best gothic tales.
If you like your vampire stories rich with philosophical depth and soul-searching angst set amongst the richest and most beautiful backdrops, this one’s for you!
The Crow
“…Sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with [the soul after death] and the soul can’t rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right.”
In this gritty and yet poetic classic, Eric and Shelly are murdered on Devil’s Night [October 30th for those of you who aren’t from Detroit or its suburbs]. But one year later, the crow brings him back to wreak vengeance on those who stole his beloved from him.
Sleepy Hollow
In Tim Burton’s contemporary retelling of the classic tale of Ichabod Crane, he reimagines Ichabod as a police constable sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate tales of a headless horseman amidst a series of mysterious murders.
Enamored with Katrina Van Tassel around whom the riddle swirls, Ichabod is drawn into dangerous encounters that open a new world to him: one beyond the science and reason he holds so dearly.
Dark Shadows
In another Tim Burton film, Johnny Depp plays the role of Barnabas Collins, a wealthy young man who, after spurning the advances of a witch, is cursed to be a vampire forever.
Though he’s buried alive, it’s not over for Barnabas. In 1972, a construction crew inadvertently opens his coffin, awakening him to a new world of modern sights and old rivalries.
This one is witty and fun!
The Village
From the creator of The Sixth Sense comes another mind bender. The Village is my favorite of M. Night Shyamalan’s movies. On the surface it’s a story of an 18th century village held captive by a fear of monsters that roam the surrounding woods.
But beneath that lies so much more. Prepare for plot twists and surprises. It’s an intense and thought-provoking ride. And after you watch it, check out my analysis of the meaning of the movie:
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
If you love the novel of the same name, you’ll love the film which is true to the original tale.
Herein lies the tale of Victor Frankenstein, a young medical student, who after experiencing the loss of his mother to an early death, grows obsessed with the possibility of reanimation and eternal life.
This is a story of desperation and ambition, but also a cautionary tale of what happens when man plays God.
The Addams Family
In a family-friendly dark comedy, Barry Sonnenfeld brings to life the macabre Addams family of the 1960s and prior to that, the original cartoon characters of Charles Addams.
When Uncle Fester, long believed to have been lost to the Bermuda Triangle, reappears, the family is torn between his strange behavior and their desire to draw him back into the family.
Though it was made 30 years ago, this one always feels fresh and fun…in the darkest of ways, of course.
Hotel Transylvania
This one might be a bit of a cheat. I’m not sure that the Hotel Transylvania films are actually gothic, but they are filled with vampires, werewolves and a Transylvanian castle-turned-hotel for monsters. Works for me.
There are several movies in the franchise and most viewers seem to latch onto the third one: Summer Vacation, when they take a monster cruise. However, I’m partial to the first and second ones, especially the second one with baby Denisovitch. These movies are fall fun for the whole family.
The Phantom of the Opera
This is the movie version of the novel and Broadway musical about a phantom living under a Paris Opera House.
As his protegé, Christine’s voice improves and her talent transcends that of her peers, so does the phantom’s hold on her. He would claim her for his own forever, stealing her away to his hidden home, unless Christine’s suitor, the Viscount Raoul can save her in time.
If you love historical gothic tales replete with beauty and music, this one’s for you!
The Lost Boys
And last but definitely not least is the relatively modern (1987) vampire tale, The Lost Boys.
For those of us who grew up in the 1980s, this—like The Crow—is a cult classic. When two boys move to Santa Clara, CA, to stay with their grandfather, they discover a community living under the shadow of a gang of vampires.
Soon Sam’s older brother Michael falls in with the undead, and it’s up to him and his friends to save his brother from an eternity of death.
Conclusion
There are so many others out there such as the original (1931) Dracula, Gaslight (1944) and Red Riding Hood (2011). Any of these will give you wonderful, gothic fall feels. Enjoy them over the next couple of months. Let me know which one is your favorite and why!
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