12021-03-31T23:56:06+00:00Halen Giffordab5ea7ed8de6ef3e07ee088ad354a6081f1e9a3f84image_header4122021-04-16T05:37:24+00:00Halen Giffordab5ea7ed8de6ef3e07ee088ad354a6081f1e9a3fThe purpose of my research was to examine the gothic influence on contemporary horror cinema of the 2010s by conducting a comparative analysis of The Babadook (2014), The Invitation (2015), and Crimson Peak (2015). I aimed to look specifically at the theme of isolation and its relationship to gothic horror as well as focus on the significance of setting in the three films. I was interested in finding common themes in the texts and assessing if they reflected the cultural themes of the time. My analysis examined haunted houses as a trope in the horror genre and characterized these settings by the presence of ghosts and the personification of the locations. I explored the intertextual references in The Babadook, The Invitation, and Crimson Peak, to highlight the films’ gothic inspiration. Through film analysis, I identified four themes these texts share: “Houses with Personality,” “Tragic Losses,” “Memories and Ghosts,” and “Isolation.” Finally, I concluded this analysis by combining the four themes into one, “being trapped.” I argue that the films utilize the concept of being trapped or stuck, both physically and emotionally, to illustrate the impact of trauma and mental illness. The results of my research conclude that the films articulate the importance of confronting grief and emotional vulnerability, which is consistent with societal trends and conversations surrounding destigmatizing mental illness.
