Abstract
The purpose of this project is to examine gothic influences in contemporary horror cinema of the 2010s. To fulfill this purpose, the study employs comparative film analysis methods to analyze The Babadook (2014), The Invitation (2015), and Crimson Peak (2015) in order to identify intertextual gothic references in the cinematography, mise en scène, and narratives of the films. Specifically, this project examines the haunted house trope in the horror genre as characterized by the presence of ghosts and the personification of the setting. Through this analysis, four common themes emerged: “Houses with Personality,” “Tragic Losses,” “Memories and Ghosts,” and “Isolation.” The results of this research conclude that these films articulate the importance of confronting grief and emotional vulnerability, which are consistent with societal trends and conversations surrounding destigmatizing mental illness in 2010s popular culture.
Advisor
Atay, Ahmet
Department
Communication Studies; Film Studies
Recommended Citation
Gifford, Halen, "The Ghosts of Grief: An Exploration of Gothic Influence in 2010s Horror Cinema" (2021). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 9500.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/9500
Disciplines
Critical and Cultural Studies | Film and Media Studies
Keywords
gothic, horror, film, grief, isolation, haunted house
Publication Date
2021
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis Exemplar
External Link
http://scalar.woosterdigital.org/ghostsofgrief/index
© Copyright 2021 Halen Gifford