This the season to be scary! Which is ironic since Halloween edition scares me a lot. Being quite new to the horror genre I’m sure I’ll start repeating myself with these movies. It’s inevitable, honestly. But this week, since horror is paired with period dramas, I’m pushed into a very tiny corner. So, I’m improvising. I’m bringing you three movies that have horror elements but are not all horror movies per-say. Also one is technically not even a period drama. All three have one common actress though so I guess that sort of makes up for it, yes?
1. STOKER (2013)
Breaking all the rules but it’s kind of a period drama. It’s also classified as a psychological thriller but Wentworth Miller who penned this has said otherwise. Miller himself has described it as a horror film so that’s what I’m going with. And to have a movie about a teenager in the middle of a very complicated family dynamic, is kind of horrific. This movie is brilliant! It’s one of those movies that I think about every once in a while but haven’t really watched a lot. I do want to revisit it as I’m older now because I’m sure I’ll catch more subtle hints and symbolism in its core. It’s well written, it’s amazingly acted and there’s a very nice tone to the entire movie. Definitely among my favourites and I’m eager to agree with Miller that it is a horror movie. Many psychological thrillers are.
2. JANE EYRE (2011)
This one is a period drama (also double mentioned this year) that technically is not a horror movie BUT the filming conditions were! The director, Cary Joji Fukunaga has admitted that “Wasikowska nearly got hypothermia on the second day while shooting the rain sequence” – that is horrific! So I’m listing it here and to be honest, some of its elements are a little horrific. Then again, many movies that hit close to home with their heavy and emotional themes could be horrifying to many. So even though I wasn’t a huge fan of this movie in general, I appreciate its dark tone and the acting behind it. Plus, I remember liking it a lot during the Fassbender craze that was going around at that time.
3. CRIMSON PEAK (2015)
Finally a proper horror movie in my list! Crimson Peak is, in my opinion, a failed attempt to be a great gothic horror story by being a bit too muddled. I remember I was so excited for it and after I saw it, the disappointment was huge. I think I even reviewed it back when I reviewed movies. To be fair, it does have some pretty gnarly horror scenes with CGI ghosts that I still remember. While I was technically not a horror movie fan back then, I still enjoyed the horror aspects of Crimson Peak. By the way, did you realise what all these movies have in common? Oh yes, it’s Mia Wasikowska, who is the new period drama actress to replace Kiera Knightley it seems.
THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES
3
What Jane Eyre goes through in the orphanage in the early part of the story is a horror so it fits in that way. There are other versions of the story I like better but this one was okay.
Crimson Peak definitely appears to be the title of the week but I haven’t seen it. Nor have I seen Stoker.
I’m not much for horror either but I do like period pieces so it made coming up with three slightly better this time out.
The Others (2001)-On the English coast during WWII Grace (Nicole Kidman), a young mother with strong religious beliefs lives mostly in darkness with her two children who suffer from a rare photosensitivity disease hoping to hear word of her husband who is missing in action. A sense of dread permeates the house as the daughter claims to see ghosts and ominous events continue to transpire. I’m not a fan of Kidman but she’s good in this solid creeper.
Interview with the Vampire (1994)-In a San Francisco mansion 200 year old vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) tells the story of his transformation at the hands of the seductive Lestat de Lioncourt (Tom Cruise) to reporter Daniel Molloy (Christian Slater). He spins a tale of bloodlust, domination and his attempts to break free only to be further enslaved by Lestat’s conversion of Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) a girl Louis holds dear. Cruise is miscast but not a bad adaptation of the book.
The Haunted Palace (1963)-In the 1760’s condemned warlock Joseph Curwen (Vincent Price) curses a New England village just before being burned alive. Jump forward a century and the kindly Charles Ward (also Price), Curwen’s great-great grandson and his wife Ann (Debra Paget) arrive in town to take up residence in Curwen’s old mansion assisted by caretaker Simon Orne (Lon Chaney Jr.). But before long the ancient curse overcomes Charles who is driven to evil deeds. Roger Corman directed pastiche of a Poe poem and H. P. Lovecraft novella is a boilerplate 60’s AIP release with Price chewing the scenery most enjoyably.
I recommend Stoker highly! I think you would like it. Interview With the Vampire and The Others are wonderful! I had The Others in my original list but I have mentioned that before as well so I skipped it this time.
Ironically the only true horror on the list is the worst movie in this batch 🙂 I adore Stoker. Goode was crazy hot in it
I know. I had such a hard time this week. Very difficult theme for me. 😀
I know all three of your picks, have seen #1 and #3 and we share a pick with the last one!
Great choices 🙂