What comes to mind when you hear or read the word gothic?
Does your mind fill with gargoyles, damask patterns, crushed velvet, and intricate candelabras? Do your ears echo with the creaking sounds of an eroding, haunted castle or the piercing cry of some unknown victim from deep within the dark woods? Or maybe your experience with the “gothic” aesthetic is more… fashion-centered in nature?
No matter how you connect with gothic literature and design, one thing always remains true: Goth isn’t just a phase, it’s a lifestyle.
Fashion trends may come and go, but the aesthetics that surround gothic literature, architecture, and design clearly show no signs of dying out. Which is ironic since, among all other styles throughout history, this one would be the most pleased with becoming a corpse.
But really… what does “gothic” mean?
The term “gothic” originated in the Renaissance era as a reference to the brutality and mystical fervor of the medieval age, and many gothic novels still draw inspiration from medieval roots.
Tracing all the way back to the 18th century, the gothic movement is thought to have started with Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto with the genre-birthing subtitle, “A Gothic Story.” Framed with underlying supernatural tension and filled with characters pulled between the wicked and the sublime, this macabre tale (perhaps unwittingly) set off a massive publishing trend.
During this period, classic gothic authors — including Ann Radcliffe, Clara Reeve, and William Beckford — stalked out of the darkness to sate ravenous readers hungry for more.
This appetite for gothic literature continued to grow into the 19th century, inspiring some of the most influential horror of all time: Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (also widely considered the first sci-fi novel), to name a few. Gothics became particularly popular among women authors and readers, who had previously found themselves confined to social dramas about courting and marriage. Female protagonists in gothic fiction allowed them to explore the everyday horrors and fears of being a woman in a patriarchal society.
With its roots still firmly planted in 18th-century Europe, gothic literature spread its latticed arms to the Americas. Inspiring classic works like Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, this wasn’t a passing trend — it was an artistic movement.
Sorry, Mom. We told you it wasn’t a phase!
Gothic Influences on Other Genres and Pop Culture
It’s clear why gothic themes have remained so prevalent around the globe and within nearly every art form. It even helped create a whole other art form of its own, you may have heard of it… horror.
The creeping sense of dread and fear found in gothic aesthetics play into our darkest fears. These aesthetics and the emotions they evoke continue to inspire some of the biggest films and TV shows today, often crossing genre lines into sci-fi, action, comedy, and more.
Audiences still can’t get enough of Frankenstein — which is why we’re getting a new film adaptation by visionary screenwriter and director Guillermo del Toro in November starring Oscar Isaacs, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth. Del Toro’s signature style pairs dark, lush visuals and pairs with modern reimaginings of classic monsters, so the film is sure to introduce a new generation to a gothic staple. Dracula continues to shape vampire narratives, from Robert Eggers’ 2024 horror film Nosferatu to Chris McKay’s 2023 comedic action horror Renfield.
We’re also witnessing a resurgence in classic gothic romance. Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca found new fans in a 2020 film adaptation starring Lily James and Armie Hammer. Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi is already sparking renewed interest in the original text by Emily Brontë. Of course, gothic “horrormance” is also a thing, giving rise to stories and films that give you goosebumps in more ways than one. A great example of this is Diablo Cody’s gothic romantic comedy horror film Lisa Frankenstein which gives Mary Shelley’s iconic monster a flirtatiously nostalgic 1980s twist.
Fresh takes on gothic themes like these continue to crop up, subverting both classic and modern genre expectations. Director Yorgos Lanthimos’s Oscar-winning 2023 movie Poor Things draws directly from classic gothic literature and aesthetics to create its own kind of bizarre horror comedy. Southern Gothic horror has also returned to the silver screen with Ryan Coogler’s brilliant 2025 horror film Sinners. Following twin brothers as they battle a supernatural evil in the 1930s Mississippi Delta, this love letter to early American folklore shows that gothic storylines aren’t just for castles or cobbled beaches.
Gothic scares can also entertain all ages. Dark academia novels, like Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education, put a gothic twist on high school and college narratives, and they are particularly popular among young adult readers. Consider also the enduring power of The Addams Family and the wild success of Netflix’s spinoff series Wednesday starring Jenna Ortega. Whether you love nightmare-inducing horror or cheeky morbid humor, there are plenty of gothic worlds for you to explore.
Craving more stories that’ll make you want to bust out your eyeliner and corset? Keep reading for our audiobook recommendations inspired by all things broody, mysterious, and delightfully dark.
Nothing sends goosebumps up your spine more than a full-cast audio drama, and this classic vampire story is no different!
This full-cast performance of Dracula offers a new way to experience Bram Stoker’s seminal vampire story, which follows Abraham Van Helsing’s efforts to track down Lucy Seward after she becomes the victim of Count Dracula. Originally written by Irish playwright Hamilton Deane, this stage play was the first authorized adaptation of the 1897 epistolary novel Dracula. Learn more >
This family-friendly Frankenstein retelling will keep the Halloween spooky vibes going well after all the candy is gone!
Stitch and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre. But when his wicked nephew takes over the laboratory, they soon discover that the new professor’s sights are set on Henry as his next experiment. Can Stitch and Henry escape his clutches and make their way in a world they were never built for—and that may only ever see them as monsters? Learn more >
Looking for something a bit more mature? This sci-fi space opera takes the classic vampire horror, Dracula, and launches it into space with fang-sharp wit and a terrifying setting worthy of Ridley Scott himself.
Demeter just wants to do her job: shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, her passengers keep dying—and not from equipment failures, as her AI medical system, Steward, would have her believe. These are paranormal murders, and they began when one nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill all her humans. Learn more >
Big fan of Bella and her otherworldly love triangle? You’ll die for this intensely romantic YA fantasy that’s perfect for a whole new generation of monster lovers.
Mirabella Owens grew up with legends of wolves that traveled to her midwestern town to protect humans from vampires. Of a werewolf that fell in love with one of the undead, unraveling a blood-soaked history. But Mira stopped believing in those fairy tales years ago. She stopped believing in a lot of things after her mom left without a trace when she was only thirteen. Learn more >
The heavily ornamented reading room of the Boston Public Library provides a gothic architectural backdrop to Sulari Gentill’s mystery.
When a woman’s scream echoes through Boston Public Library, four strangers are trapped together in the reading room. As they wait, friendships form. But everyone has a reason for being in the reading room that morning — it just happens that one is a murderer. Learn more >
McCormick Templeman’s latest release puts a modern gothic twist on dark academia with a sinister story set in the Rocky Mountains.
Historian Robin Quain has been awarded a residency at Hildegard College — a celebrated scientific institution — to examine an impressive collection of ancient manuscripts, but she has a secret. She’s actually on the hunt for an artifact―one she must find before her rival gets his hands on it first. Learn more >
Experience witchy American Gothic at its finest with Hester Fox’s spooky, atmospheric, and fast-paced feminist tale about women called witches and the parts of our history we’d rather forget.
Madeline is missing. Ordered to find her, Madeline’s estranged niece, Fade, must return to the lonely forest of Willow Sound, Nova Scotia. There, Fade discovers her aunt’s once-cozy cottage empty and rotting. The ominous smell of something burnt hangs in the air. In her search for answers, Fade clashes with the superstitious villagers in the neighboring town of Grand Tea. Learn more >
Misery meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers in this genre-bending, claustrophobic hospital gothic from the bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence.
Margaret’s rare autoimmune condition has destroyed her life, leaving her isolated and in pain. It has no cure, but she’s making do as best she can—until she’s offered a fully paid-for spot in an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial. Learn more >
Fans of historical fiction will be haunted forever by this gothic tale of guilt, vengeance, and a girl’s fight to reclaim her soul from the shadows.
Philadelphia, 1841. Seventeen-year-old Annis Hargrave is running from a nightmare. She and her brother have fled New York, burdened by secrets, grief, and the cursed blue pearl that may have brought death in its wake. But the past refuses to stay buried. Learn more >
The real-life ghost town of Copper City gives the perfect gothic setting for L.L. Madrid’s effortlessly spooky debut novel.
A grandmother tormented by visions tried to warn the town, but no one listened. Now, a haunted inheritance has passed to her granddaughters, Audrey and Mara. When Mara’s body is discovered in the old mine, Audrey fears her grandmother’s premonition is manifesting. Learn more >
Let’s switch gears and explore the more… sensual side of this brooding genre with gothic romances that’ll keep you reading until the candle burns ALL the way down.
Before Dracula, Carmilla was the vampire inspiring gothic terror (and infatuation) in readers around the globe.
Due to an unfortunate series of events, a teenage girl named Carmilla is left in the care of a wealthy widower and his daughter, Laura. Laura, upon meeting the poor girl, comes to realize that she knows her face. Years prior when she was but a child, Laura was haunted by a presence in her room with the likeness of the young girl. Convinced it was just a nightmare, Laura and Carmilla become fast friends. But as Carmilla’s stay continues, strange things begin to happen… Learn more >
Is there a more gothic setting than an upside-down castle haunted by its cursed lord? Not that we can think of…
Trapped in an upside-down castle, Georgia is met at every turn by a creature as cruel and vicious as his vampire kin. Valen, the cursed lord of the manor, is the monstrous minotaur lurking at the center of Georgia’s maze. He stalks her steps, his gaze forever on her as she desperately searches for escape. He wants her memories, memories that are just as lost to her as she is to the outside world. Learn more >
Looking for a more light-hearted haunting? Check out Nadi Reed Perez’s romantasy where a recently deceased rockstar falls for a medium in an abandoned mansion setting.
Mal Caldera — former rockstar, retired wild-child, and excommunicated black sheep of her Catholic family — is dead. Not that she cares. She only feels bad that her younger sister, Cris, has been left to pick up the pieces Mal left behind. While her fellow ghosts party their afterlives away at an abandoned mansion they call the Haunt, Mal is determined to make contact with Cris from beyond the grave. Learn more >
Can’t get enough dark and dreary listens? Check out our other blogs that are filled to the brim with audiobooks that are delightfully grim.
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Home Is Where the Horror Is: Must-Listen Audiobooks with Haunted Houses and Dark Family Secrets
