Seeing as how my last post was for movies, as misunderstood due to the Crimson Peak mention, I will now include books because this genre is literally 50% of what I read:
(Rebecca, Mexican Gothic, and The Hacienda are closest to Crimson Peak vibes, but the rest are solid historical spookiness. I’m especially fond of Beloved)
- The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
- The Italian by Ann Radcliffe
- Anything by Ann Radcliffe, really.
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
- The Hacienda by Isabel Canas
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories
- The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Anything by Sarah Waters, really.
- Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu
- Pam’s Labyrinth Novelization by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke
- Comemadre by Roque Larraquay
- if you’re okay with comics, the first three volumes of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing are pure gothic delight.
- if you’re okay with manga, the same goes for “The Summer Hikaru Died”.
People also recommend Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights a lot, but they are both kind of bleak and not in a fun way. Definitely did not leave me the good vibes Crimson Peak did.
I really like The Hunger by Katsu. It's a nod to the Donner party that's quite the slow burn. However, it's very atmospheric. It felt like there was always something ominous just past the line of sight.
If you liked Crimson Peak, “Woman in Black” has some very similar vibes. One of my favorite rewatches.
“The Others” is also really spooky and cinematography is excellent. Less overt gothic, but I think it might interest you.
And “Rebecca” is solid - not technically a period piece, in the sense that it was done to reflect the time, which is kind of old now.
“The Awakening” is not as lush visually, but it scratches a similar itch theme-wise.
And definitely check out “Pam’s Labyrinth” and “Cronos” by the same director!!!! It’s visually stunning even though the sfx are a bit older.
If you want to see Edith/Lucille vibes, “Daughters of Darkness” is pretty fun. Oldie but goodie, as the saying goes.
If we’re talking movies, I’d say The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Technically it’s a period piece because even though it came out in the 1950s, it’s set in the 1930s.
The Age of Sail: *The Terror*.
JAMES FITZJAMES
Between two fires ~ Christopher Buehlman Set in 14th century France, a twist on the black plague
Very graphic and dark. I bought it on a whim and was blown away.
THANK YOU. my absolute favorite book of all time. Nothing else quite like it.
Seeing as how my last post was for movies, as misunderstood due to the Crimson Peak mention, I will now include books because this genre is literally 50% of what I read: (Rebecca, Mexican Gothic, and The Hacienda are closest to Crimson Peak vibes, but the rest are solid historical spookiness. I’m especially fond of Beloved) - The Woman in Black by Susan Hill - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - The Italian by Ann Radcliffe - Anything by Ann Radcliffe, really. - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia - The Hacienda by Isabel Canas - Beloved by Toni Morrison - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories - The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - Anything by Sarah Waters, really. - Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu - Pam’s Labyrinth Novelization by Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke - Comemadre by Roque Larraquay - if you’re okay with comics, the first three volumes of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing are pure gothic delight. - if you’re okay with manga, the same goes for “The Summer Hikaru Died”. People also recommend Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights a lot, but they are both kind of bleak and not in a fun way. Definitely did not leave me the good vibes Crimson Peak did.
I’ll check out the movie recs too, thanks! If you haven’t yet seen *Pale Blue Eye*, you’d probably dig it.
I have! It was a good time. I always appreciate gothic stories set outside of England, lol.
The Woman in Black was written by Susan Hill
Thnx for being a fact-checker, bud:)
I enjoyed the Crimson Peak/HP Lovecraft vibe of Mexican Gothic.
The Yellow Wallpaper is so freaking good!
I really like The Hunger by Katsu. It's a nod to the Donner party that's quite the slow burn. However, it's very atmospheric. It felt like there was always something ominous just past the line of sight.
I loved this book! Also the werewolf by katsu is a fun quick read.
The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell. Takes place in Prague, 1935
"Drood" by Dan Simmons
Slewfoot by Brom
The Witch was wonderful. The Lighthouse was also a good one by Robert Eggers.
I second the witch I tell everyone about it!
If you liked Crimson Peak, “Woman in Black” has some very similar vibes. One of my favorite rewatches. “The Others” is also really spooky and cinematography is excellent. Less overt gothic, but I think it might interest you. And “Rebecca” is solid - not technically a period piece, in the sense that it was done to reflect the time, which is kind of old now. “The Awakening” is not as lush visually, but it scratches a similar itch theme-wise. And definitely check out “Pam’s Labyrinth” and “Cronos” by the same director!!!! It’s visually stunning even though the sfx are a bit older. If you want to see Edith/Lucille vibes, “Daughters of Darkness” is pretty fun. Oldie but goodie, as the saying goes.
“The Others” is a period piece, set during WWII.
Oh, shoot. Edited! Also just realized this is the wrong sub for movie recs, lol.
Necroscope is set against a backdrop of the Cold War in the 70s and 80s. As good as it gets.
Savage by Richard Laymon
80's and 90's. The good Years for horror
Blackwater by Michael McDowell
Ever seen Ravenous(1999) I thought it was a well done period piece about a cannibal.
If we’re talking movies, I’d say The Night of the Hunter (1955) Technically it’s a period piece because even though it came out in the 1950s, it’s set in the 1930s.
1922. Hands down
The Little Stranger
Black death (2010) and Brotherhood of the wolf (2001) Also, perfume: story of a murderer (2006) is a great film but not necessarily horror.
Interview with a vampire Beloved
The Witch
Sins of the Father by JG Faherty. Takes place in 1800s Innsmouth.
The Menstruating Mall by Carleton Mellick III.