All anyone is talking about right now is Nosferatu, and rightfully so. Robert Eggers' latest gothic horror movie is dripping in ambiance, and it's beautiful to look at, in addition to featuring several excellent performances, especially from Bill Skarsgård, who plays Count Orlok himself.
With Nosferatu recently arriving on digital (extended cut, too!), many people are discovering or rewatching the film after checking it out in theaters in December where the film outperformed expectations at the holiday box office. But the main thing no one can stop talking about is the twisted sexual dynamic between Orlok and Ellen Hutter (Lily Rose-Depp), which culminates in a particularly wild ending.
If you're into gothic horror and dark romance, this list of movie recommendations is for you.
Crimson Peak (2015)
- Director: Guillermo del Toro
- Writer: Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins
- Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, and Jim Beaver
- Streaming: VOD
Guillermo del Toro directed and co-wrote this 20th-century gothic horror romance starring Mia Wasikowska as an heiress who marries the wealthy Sir Thomas (Tom Hiddleston), moves into his fancy gothic manor and soon realizes that something is amiss with her husband and his twisted relationship with stepsister Lucille (Jessica Chastain). Similar to Nosferatu, Crimson Peak doesn't play coy with its sexuality, and while not overly graphic, the sex scenes are shown on-screen rather than simply alluded to.
Phantom of the Opera (2004)
- Director: Joel Schumacher
- Writer: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Joel Schumacher
- Cast: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, and Minnie Driver
- Streaming: VOD
A romantic musical and a classic story adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, this version of Phantom of the Opera tends to be one of the more popular thanks to it starring actors like Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson. In this story, budding opera singer Christine (Rossum) attracts the attention of the opera house "Phantom."
Your Monster (2024)
- Director/Writer: Caroline Lindy
- Cast: Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster, and Meghann Fahy
- Streaming: Max (Jan. 24)
The most recently released film on this list is far more lighthearted than most of the other films listed and the monster-human dynamic plays out in a charming rom-com manner, though still with some bloody violence and horror moments. Melissa Barrera (Scream, Abigail) stars as a down on her luck actress that strikes up an unlikely relationship with the monster living in the closet of her childhood bedroom.
Fascination (1979)
- Director/Writer: Jean Rollin
- Cast: Franca Maï, Brigitte Lahaie, and Jean-Marie Lemaire
- Streaming: VOD
If it's an erotic gothic nightmare you're after then look no further than Rollin's filmography. Fascination is one of the most well-known and popular of his films, but you can't really go wrong with any of them in this particular niche. Fascination centers on a criminal who breaks into a house and takes the maids hostage. But when the bloodthirsty owners return home, she finds herself in over her head.
The Shape of Water (2017)
- Director: Guillermo del Toro
- Writer: Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor
- Cast: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer
- Streaming: VOD
Funnily enough, this is another Guillermo del Toro film; the man just gets period horror films and dark fantasy like no other. Like in Nosferatu, this is a movie that does actually feature its heroine going "all the way" with its main monster. In this case, an amphibian man akin to the Gill-man from The Creature of the Black Lagoon—and it won Best Picture at the 2018 Oscars!
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
- Writer: James V. Hart
- Cast: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves
- Streaming: VOD
Francis Ford Coppola's take on Stoker's novel was well-received for the most part when it debuted, earning multiple Oscar nominations, particularly for the film's lush costumes and stunning production design. It's worth watching for that alone, especially if you're someone who enjoys costume dramas. Coppola does a great job of making Dracula's story feel like a true sweeping epic.
The Velvet Vampire (1971)
- Director: Stephanie Rothman
- Writer: Stephanie Rothman, Charles S. Swartz, and Maurice Jules
- Cast: Celeste Yarnall, Michael Blodgett, Sherry Miles, Gene Shane, Jerry Daniels, Sandy Ward, and Paul Prokop
- Streaming: Tubi & Shudder
Considered a cult favorite, The Velvet Vampire is a sexy slow burn about a married couple who unwittingly accepts an invitation from a vampire, the beautiful Diane LeFanu (Celeste Yarnall). Upon arriving at her fancy chateau, they soon learn the truth about Diane's true nature...and her desire to seduce them both.
The Invitation (2021)
- Director: Jessica M. Thompson
- Writer: Blair Butler
- Cast: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, Stephanie Corneliussen, Alana Boden, Hugh Skinner, and Sean Pertwee
- Streaming: Hulu
The Invitation is another Dracula-inspired story that refrains from becoming as interesting as it could be. While the film lays the foundation for a compelling and twisted gothic romance, it wimps out and turns into a more conventional horror story instead, where the evil vampire family tries to persuade a human woman to join them. But The Invitation does have its charms and if you are into the dark romance thing, this one might scratch the itch.
Penny Dreadful (2014)
- Creator: John Logan
- Seasons: 3
- Cast: Reeve Carney, Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper, Danny Sapani, Harry Treadaway, Josh Hartnett, and Helen McCrory
- Streaming: Paramount+ with Showtime
I will never miss an opportunity to discuss Penny Dreadful, one of my favorite shows of all time. And although it's not a movie, this three-season show is severely underrated and an absolute must-watch for anyone craving more gothic horror, especially Victorian-era stuff that features classic stories and monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and more. Sexuality is a major theme on this show and there are plenty of over-the-top graphic sex scenes along with deeper exploration of the topic among its characters like protagonist Vanessa Ives (Eva Green).