13 Gothic Horror Films to Watch if You Loved “Nosferatu”

From eerie to atmospheric, these 13 gothic horror films capture the haunting beauty and depth that fans of “Nosferatu” should devour.

Robert Eggers’ 2024 reimagining of Nosferatu breathes new life into F.W. Murnau’s 1922 vampire masterpiece. With Bill Skarsgård embodying the terrifying Count Orlok and Lily-Rose Depp bringing a fresh perspective to Ellen Hutter, Eggers’ version proves that Gothic horror’s power to unsettle and entrance audiences remains undiminished. While Eggers’ film draws directly from both Murnau’s original and Werner Herzog’s 1979 adaptation, its success highlights how Gothic horror continues to evolve and find new ways to terrify audiences.

For those captivated by this latest interpretation of cinema’s most iconic vampire tale, here are ten lesser-known modern Gothic horror films that capture that same sense of dread, atmospheric tension, and psychological horror.

1. The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)

Osgood Perkins’ directorial debut is a masterclass in a slow-burning Gothic atmosphere. Set in a nearly abandoned Catholic boarding school during winter break, the film follows two students left behind during vacation. Through meticulous pacing and a foreboding score, Perkins crafts a deeply unsettling tale of possession and isolation that echoes the architectural dread of classic Gothic cinema. The snow-covered Gothic architecture and long, shadowy corridors create an atmosphere of creeping terror that would make Murnau proud.

Bonus: If you want to see more from the visionary director behind one of 2024’s biggest hits, Longlegs, you might also want to check out Gretel & Hansel. His 2020 retelling of the classic fairy tale leans heavily into gothic aesthetics. The dark forests, foreboding architecture, and unsettling score make for a nightmarish visual feast. With themes of hunger, power, and corruption, this film captures the timeless allure of gothic horror.

2. A Field in England (2013)

Ben Wheatley’s psychedelic historical horror takes place during the English Civil War, following a group of deserters who are captured by an alchemist and forced to search for buried treasure. Shot in striking black and white, the film masterfully blends folk horror with psychological terror, creating a hallucinatory experience that feels both ancient and startlingly modern. Wheatley’s experimental approach to editing and sound design, combined with exceptional performances (particularly from Reece Shearsmith), creates a uniquely unsettling examination of madness and manipulation.

3. November (2017)

An Estonian folk tale brought to life, November is a visually stunning and deeply eerie film where peasants coexist with spirits, witches, werewolves, plagues, and peculiar creatures called kratts. Set in a remote village where pagan rituals and Christian beliefs clash, it explores love, death, and the supernatural. Director Rainer Sarnet’s striking black-and-white cinematography and bizarre characters, like the kratts (animated creatures made of household objects), create a singular gothic experience—a twisted Gothic fairy tale full of folklore, romance, and otherworldly horror.

4. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)

While Guillermo del Toro’s breathtaking Crimson Peak is his most overtly Gothic film, this earlier Spanish-language ghost story and haunting meditation on loss and trauma is a more subtle and affecting take on Gothic horror. Set in a remote orphanage during the Spanish Civil War, The Devil’s Backbone weaves together political allegory with genuine supernatural terror. Its decaying architecture and tragic story create a uniquely moving Gothic narrative that emphasizes emotional depth alongside its scares. If you’re a del Toro fan and haven’t yet discovered this masterpiece, I urge you to seek it out immediately.

5. Byzantium (2012)

Neil Jordan returns to vampire mythology with this elegant and subversive take on the genre. The story follows two female vampires, played brilliantly by Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton, as they attempt to survive in a seaside town. Jordan’s direction emphasizes the melancholic aspects of immortality while creating stunning visuals that reimagine vampire lore. The film’s exploration of femininity, power, and survival offers a fresh perspective on gothic traditions.

Interestingly, Jordan is perhaps best known for another vampire tale that ranks among the most beloved and influential, Interview with the Vampire. He’s also the brilliant mind behind one of my absolute favorites, a must-watch for fans of dark fairytale horror, The Company of Wolves.

6. Spring (2o14)

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s genre-bending romance follows an American tourist who falls in love with a mysterious woman in Italy, only to discover she harbors an ancient secret. Set against the picturesque Italian coastline, the film’s Mediterranean setting and Lovecraftian elements create a sun-drenched Gothic romance that subverts expectations while honoring the genre’s traditions of doomed love and supernatural transformation. Spring is a thoughtful exploration of love, immortality, and transformation that expands the boundaries of gothic horror.

7. The Wind (2018)

Emma Tammi’s feminist western-horror hybrid explores isolation and paranoia on the American frontier. The Wind‘s non-linear narrative follows a woman who becomes convinced that a malevolent presence haunts the prairie. The stunning cinematography captures the desolate landscape as both beautiful and threatening, while the sophisticated sound design creates an atmosphere of constant unease. It’s the perfect gothic setting, reminiscent of a windswept moor, where every shadow hides a secret.

8. Marrowbone (2017)

Sergio G. Sánchez’s atmospheric ghost story follows four siblings hiding dark secrets in their family estate. Four siblings try to hide their mother’s death to keep their family together. As they strive to conceal her passing, they’re tormented by a sinister presence within the house. Marrowbone weaves tragedy, mystery, and horror into a stunningly eerie package. The film’s elegant production design and careful attention to period detail create a classical gothic atmosphere, while its complex narrative structure keeps viewers guessing until the final revelation. It’s worth watching for the cast alone, which includes a who’s who of young acting talent, including Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), Mia Goth (X), and George MacKay—whose central performance anchors the film’s exploration of family trauma and survival.

9. The Devil’s Doorway (2018)

Shot in found-footage style, The Devil’s Doorway follows two priests investigating a miracle at a Magdalene Laundry in 1960s Ireland. They uncover horrifying secrets tied to religious oppression. Director Aislinn Clarke uses the documentary format to expose both supernatural and human horrors, creating a powerful commentary on institutional abuse while delivering genuine scares. The grainy 16mm aesthetic and chilling subject matter create an unsettling gothic atmosphere.

10. The Night House (2020)

David Bruckner’s (Hellraiser) sophisticated supernatural thriller follows a widow uncovering her deceased husband’s disturbing secrets. Rebecca Hall’s tour-de-force performance grounds the film’s increasingly surreal narrative, while the innovative sound design and visual effects create unique scares. Set against the backdrop of a lakeside home steeped in dark secrets, The Night House explores grief, doppelgangers, and existential dread with a gothic edge.

11. The Awakening (2011)

Nick Murphy’s elegant ghost story, set in post-WWI England, follows a professional skeptic investigating a haunted boarding school. Rebecca Hall delivers another stellar performance in this sophisticated exploration of grief and belief. The film’s period setting and attention to psychological complexity honor gothic traditions while adding modern sophistication to the ghost story formula. The misty landscapes, creaking corridors, and deep emotional undercurrents make it a gothic gem, rich in melancholy and suspense.

12. Ghostland (aka Incident in a Ghostland) (2018)

Pascal Laugier’s haunting thriller begins as a home invasion story before spiraling into a complex meditation on trauma and imagination. When two sisters and their mother inherit a remote mansion filled with creepy dolls and dark secrets, they experience a horrific night of terror that reverberates through their lives in unexpected ways. The film’s Gothic imagery, including the ornate mansion and its disturbing collection of dolls, serves as a perfect backdrop for its exploration of how trauma shapes reality. Laugier crafts a metaphysically complex narrative that uses Gothic horror traditions to explore contemporary psychological themes.

13. The Eyes of My Mother (2016)

Nicolas Pesce’s stark black-and-white nightmare follows a young woman whose isolated life on a farm takes a dark turn after a tragic incident in her childhood. Shot in luminous monochrome that recalls both Nosferatu and European art cinema, the film creates a uniquely American Gothic atmosphere. Its exploration of loneliness, family, and moral corruption plays out against a landscape of rural isolation, with baroque touches of body horror that never overshadow its deep psychological resonance. The film’s visual poetry and emotional complexity make it a standout example of modern Gothic horror.

14. The Other Lamb (2019)

Malgorzata Szumowska’s visually stunning slow-burn horror film (written by C.S. McMullen) follows a young woman in a cult led by a charismatic shepherd. As the woman begins questioning the cult leader’s authority, The Other Lamb delves into themes of power, identity, and rebellion. The stunning cinematography and careful attention to visual symbolism create a haunting meditation on faith and female empowerment. Meanwhile, the isolated woodland setting, combined with ethereal cinematography and unsettling atmosphere, makes it a powerful gothic allegory.

15. The Dark and the Wicked (2020)

Set on a remote family farm, Bryan Bertino’s relentlessly bleak horror film follows two siblings returning to their family farm as their father dies.  The film’s exploration of grief and family obligation creates a foundation for escalating supernatural terror. Bertino’s direction emphasizes psychological horror while delivering visceral scares. The oppressive atmosphere, haunting score, and unrelenting dread make The Dark and the Wicked a modern gothic masterpiece.