The Gothic romance film is a

Gothic film A Gothic film is a film that is based on Gothic fiction or contains Gothic elements. Since various definite film genres—including science fiction, film noir, thriller, and comedy—have used Gothic elements, the Gothic film is challenging to defi ...

with

feminine Femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as socially constructed, and there is also some evidence that some behaviors considered fe ...

appeal. Diane Waldman wrote in '' Cinema Journal'' that Gothic films in general "permitted the articulation of feminine fear, anger, and distrust of the patriarchal order" and that such films during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and afterward "place an unusual emphasis on the affirmation of feminine perception, interpretation, and lived experience". Between 1940 and 1948, the Gothic romance film was prevalent in Hollywood, being produced by well-known directors and actors. The best-known films of the era were ''

Rebecca Rebecca, ; Syriac: , ) from the Hebrew (lit., 'connection'), from Semitic root , 'to tie, couple or join', 'to secure', or 'to snare') () appears in the Hebrew Bible as the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. According to biblical ...

'' (1940), '' Suspicion'' (1941), and '' Gaslight'' (1944). Less well-known films were '' Undercurrent'' (1946) and '' Sleep, My Love'' (1948). Waldman describes these films' Gothic rubric: "A young inexperienced woman meets a handsome older man to whom she is alternately attracted and repelled." Other films from the decade include '' The Enchanted Cottage'' (1945) and '' The Heiress'' (1949). The Gothic romance films from the 1940s often contain the " Bluebeard motif", meaning that in the typical setting of the house, a certain part is either forbidden to be used or even closed off entirely. In the films, the forbidden room is a metaphor for the heroine's repressed experience, and opening the room is a cathartic moment in the film. In addition, the layout of the house in such films (as well as Gothic novels) creates "spatial disorientation hatcauses fear and an uncanny restlessness". In 2015, director

Guillermo del Toro Guillermo del Toro Gómez (; born October 9, 1964) is a Mexican filmmaker, author, and actor. He directed the Academy Award–winning fantasy films ''Pan's Labyrinth'' (2006) and ''The Shape of Water'' (2017), winning the Academy Awards for Be ...

released the Gothic romance film ''

Crimson Peak ''Crimson Peak'' is a 2015 gothic romance film directed by Guillermo del Toro and written by del Toro and Matthew Robbins. The film stars Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, and Jim Beaver. The story, set in Edwardi ...

''. He said past films had been "brilliantly written by women and then rendered into films by male directors who reduce the potency of the female characters". For ''Crimson Peak'', he sought to reverse this cinematic trope.

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Bibliography

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External links

18 Great Films Of Gothic Horror And Romance To Watch Before 'Crimson Peak'
at ''The Playlist'' (

Indiewire IndieWire (sometimes stylized as indieWIRE or Indiewire) is a film industry and review website that was established in 1996. The site's focus was predominantly independent film, although its coverage has grown to "to include all aspects of Hollyw ...

)
11 Gothic Romances That Redefine 'Valentine's Day Movie'
at '' SlashFilm'' {{Goth subculture Horror films romance Film genres Romance films

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