Gothic & Horror Valentine's

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of my all-time favorite movies. Jonathan Harker travels to Romania to work for the mysterious Transylvanian Count Dracula. Dracula imprisons Jonathan after seeing a photo of his fiance, Mina, who is the reincarnation of his long-departed wife. The count then travels across the ocean with crates of earth from his homeland to reunite with his long-lost love. Upon arriving in London, Dracula seduces and turns Mina’s BFF Lucy into a vampire - which is clearly the best way to capture a woman’s heart. Despite this, Mina falls madly in love with Dracula & he eventually takes her as his unholy bride. She’s still married to Jonathan at this point but I guess when you’re marrying a centuries-old vampire legality doesn’t matter…two weddings, dashing suitors, and seductive vampire brides, it's the perfect gothic Valentine’s Day movie choice!

Wednesday may scoff at her parent's public affection for each other, but the eccentric, dark, and gothic love between Gomez and Morticia Addams may be one of the most romantic in pop culture. The Addams Family movies and TV series are a goth rite of passage and a beloved spooky family. Gomez worships Morticia and is hopelessly devoted to his wife, dedicated to her complete happiness. Morticia is equally devoted to Gomez, and they are passionately in love. Their magnetism is inspiring and they exude the qualities of a strong and healthy relationship. My favorite iteration is the 1993 Addams Family Values, which incorporates childhood nostalgia, dark comedy, and the evilest pastel villain, Debbie. Another top movie choice to celebrate a goth Valentine's.

“When we’re together darling, every night is Halloween.” 

This film is a gothic fantasy romance and it isn’t the only Tim Burton movie on this list (sorry not sorry). Vincent Price’s last role as Edward’s creator is iconic - he plays a version of Dr. Frankenstein who creates our goth outcast. Edward’s sweet disposition and love for Kim leave us feeling empathy and sadness. Although they never officially get together, both keep each other’s memories alive through storytelling and beautiful ice sculptures. For goths who love pastels, the candy-colored neighborhood is the perfect Valloween setting. You also be dying to try some of that famous Ambrosia Salad.

In this gothic romance, Edith meets a handsome baronet (Thomas) who offers to whisk her away from Buffalo (which tbh is fair). Edith & Thomas marry and move (along with evil sis) to his rapidly deteriorating mansion in England. Now a bored housewife, Edith roams the mansion by day and is haunted by ghosts at night. The ghosts help Edith uncover the sibling’s disturbing secrets of multiple marriages, murder, and incest. Talk about killer love. This movie is beautifully macabre, with actually terrifying ghost scenes and gruesome murders. The juxtaposition of the once-elegant mansion as it slowly sinks into the blood-red clay feels woefully romantic. The delicious costumes will whisk you away to a more gothic time.

Romantically named characters Adam and Eve are vampires that have been together for centuries. Reminiscent of Lestat from Anne Rice’s The Queen of the Damned, Adam is a mysterious and despondent musician. The character names, evocative careers, and famous friendships (Christopher Marlowe, a famous playwright) are all delicious little nods to romantic horror readers. Adam and Eve are an idyllic couple, living apart when independence is coveted but readily available to reconcile when the other is in need. This film is passionate, and a timeless option for a Valloween night in. 

A post-apocalyptic love story focusing on the budding romance between a young woman and a zombie, Warm Bodies is an adorable respite from typical zombie movies. Zom-boy R rescues Julie & the two bond over music and video games, just like many typical non-dead couples. Eventually, their romance literally brings him back to life in a heartwarming ending. 

Widely considered to be a Rom-Zom-Com, this movie is a perfect choice for Valentine’s Day viewing. Shaun goes through hordes of undead friends and neighbors to rescue his ex-girlfriend in a heroic act of service. One of my fav scenes includes a choreographed zombie fight scene to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” This film is about both romantic and friendship love, and offers a lesson in taking care of our friends under all circumstances. Celebrate your zombie apocalypse ride or die with a horror anniversary card. 

“You’ve got red on you” 

This is another tale of love from beyond the grave. Mourning the loss of his girlfriend, Zach visits her grave to find a freshly dug hole. He finds his previously deceased girlfriend back home with her parents, without a memory of her demise. They beg him not to tell her about dying, but as the world begins to crumble around them and her appetite for flesh grows, he finds it difficult to keep the secret. I had completely missed this film when it came out, so if you haven’t heard of it til now it’s definitely worth a shot for a Valentine's Day movie marathon. 

This elegant dark musical fantasy is a sweet and morbid film filled with quotes appropriate for sharing with your beloved (dead or alive). While a young man is practicing his vows, he accidentally marries a murdered bride-to-be. Considering the tragedy that befell her and the misunderstanding, Victor wants to ease her pain and join her in the afterlife. The corpse bride realizes that he has no place in the afterlife yet, and sacrifices her love for him so he can marry his true (living) love. 

It Follows encompasses lust, romance, and supernatural STIs. Although not directly romantic, this film is the most frightening on this list. After a date and a hot hookup in a car, Jay finds herself tied to a chair with a strange naked woman stalking her and her date. The date eventually explains that he caught this curse from a previous lover, and the only cure is to pass it on and hope it doesn’t come back for you. Jay has sex with a few more unlucky men before attempting to kill the supernatural entity with the help of her friends. Snuggle up with your honey and use this time to explore your options if one of you were to become suddenly haunted.