The Cinematography of Gothic Horror

How has cinema played a role in bringing Gothic themes to life? In the eighteenth century,a major shift occurred: reason and science began to replace religion as the main way of understanding the world. But, even as rational thought grew, the darker side of human nature endured. Out of this tension, Gothic fiction emerged – stories filled with shadowy castles, vulnerable heroines, and supernatural forces.

Over time, Gothic themes spread their way across art, literature, and eventually cinema. The darkened cinema became the perfect venue for tales of terror – stories that make audiences shiver with anticipation. Cinema’s own language – its lighting, set design, and camera work – played a crucial role in bringing Gothic themes to life. Join us as we explore how cinematography has shaped our fascination with one of film’s most haunting genres.

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Speaker Bio:

Rebecca Janicker is Associate Professor in Horror Media at the University of Portsmouth, UK. She is the author of The Literary Haunted House: Lovecraft, Matheson, King and the Horror in Between (McFarland, 2015) and the editor of two essay collections, Reading ‘American Horror Story’: Essays on the Television Franchise (McFarland, 2017) and The Scientist in Popular Culture: Playing God and Working Wonders (Lexington, 2022). With a research focus on Gothic and horror in film, television, theatre and comics, she has spoken at academic conferences, film festivals and comic cons around the world.

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