Gothic Reviews

1986

50
from 706 members

An impromptu party on the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva in July 1816 leads to a ghoulish night of terror: a night which will ultimately inspire the writing of two great horror classics: Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and Dr. Polidori's 'The Vampyre'. Exiles Lord Byron (Gabriel Byrne) and his macabre companion Dr. Polidori (.. Read more

Starring	Gabriel Byrne, Julian Sands, Natasha Richardson, Myriam Cyr
Director	Ken Russell
Genres	Horror

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Critics' reviews (3) of Gothic
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Ken Russell's talent to abuse past icons goes wondrously berserk here, as he resurrects the notorious 19th-century literary booze-up — Byron, Shelley, Mary Godwin, Polidori at the Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva. It's this incestuous, laudanum-quaffing occasion that led to the writing of Frankenstein, and, while Gabriel Byrne, Julian Sands and Natasha Richardson take it seriously enough, Russell keeps undermining them with overwrought visual decadence. You feel you've been invited to the exorcism of some very private demons in this example of cinema as psychiatrist's couch.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
June 16, 1816. The Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva. An illustrious gathering: Lord Byron and his... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Somewhat unhinged version of a famous occurrence in 1816, full of nauseous detail typical of its director.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Gothic
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

For lovers of the Romantic Period

This movie shows the romantic poets in a more human (and perhaps accurate)light than your GCSE homework. Good for people who have done really strange things ... more

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- - Leif Larsen from London England
  - Posted 29 May 2006 17:14
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Dreadful!

Now, I love Gabriel Byrne and Julian Sands. The 2 of them in combination looked promising in this arty cult flick. However, if I can save one person from this ... more

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- - Kenmore from Billericay
  - Posted 02 Dec 2005 19:32
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Weird with a Capital W!!!

Typical Ken Russell Film...

With the rating I intended!!!

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- - A customer from Seaton, Devon
  - Posted 12 Sep 2005 14:56
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Gothic
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Surreal

tale. Interesting though a little strange

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- - A customer from North East
  - Posted 18 Aug 2007 13:58
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

Gothic tosh

This film is testament to the monumental ego of a director acting out his own nightmares - disjointed, laughable, and in a genre all of it's own. I feel ... more

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- - A customer from Dorset, England
  - Posted 15 May 2007 20:02

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

For lovers of the Romantic Period

This movie shows the romantic poets in a more human (and perhaps accurate)light than your GCSE homework. Good for people who have done really strange things ... more

Report this review
- - Leif Larsen from London England
  - Posted 29 May 2006 17:14
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Dreadful!

Now, I love Gabriel Byrne and Julian Sands. The 2 of them in combination looked promising in this arty cult flick. However, if I can save one person from this ... more

Report this review
- - Kenmore from Billericay
  - Posted 02 Dec 2005 19:32
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Weird with a Capital W!!!

Typical Ken Russell Film...

With the rating I intended!!!

Report this review
- - A customer from Seaton, Devon
  - Posted 12 Sep 2005 14:56
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

Gothic tosh

This film is testament to the monumental ego of a director acting out his own nightmares - disjointed, laughable, and in a genre all of it's own. I feel ... more

Report this review
- - A customer from Dorset, England
  - Posted 15 May 2007 20:02
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

over the top

but then have you ever seen a movie featuring Byron that wasn't: 'Lady Caroline Lamb' for instance.

Then again this is more over tghe top... more

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- - Jeff from Staffordshire
  - Posted 09 Aug 2005 11:20
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Dire

Only gave one star as I can't give none

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- - A customer from Wales
  - Posted 26 Oct 2006 20:24
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

Drug addled nonsense

Drug addled nonsense filled with the usual Ken Russell madness, but well worth a look. The soundtrack is incongruous to say the least (Thomas Dolby, why) but ... more

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- - JamesMc from London
  - Posted 13 Aug 2007 10:31
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Arghhhh! A Ken Russel film!!!

I didn’t realise when I ordered this that it was a Ken Russell film otherwise I would have avoided it like the plaque. The best way to describe this film ... more

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- - Gus from East Yorkshire
  - Posted 24 Aug 2007 unknown
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Absolute rubbish

What a disappointment. Complete load of nonsense. The acting is appalling, the script makes no sense and the direction is truely horrific. Avoid this film at... more

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- - A customer from Oxon
  - Posted 25 Mar 2006 11:09
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Truly abysmal!

A truly appalling film and one that has driven me to write my first ever review. I can only hope that I misread the synopsis of this film and that it is ... more

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- - Emma G from Kent
  - Posted 12 Nov 2006 21:12

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Critics' reviews (3)
Ken Russell's talent to abuse past icons goes wondrously berserk here, as he resurrects the notorious 19th-century literary booze-up — Byron, Shelley, Mary Godwin, Polidori at the Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva. It's this incestuous, laudanum-quaffing occasion that led to the writing of Frankenstein, and, while Gabriel Byrne, Julian Sands and Natasha Richardson take it seriously enough, Russell keeps undermining them with overwrought visual decadence. You feel you've been invited to the exorcism of some very private demons in this example of cinema as psychiatrist's couch.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
June 16, 1816. The Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva. An illustrious gathering: Lord Byron and his... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Somewhat unhinged version of a famous occurrence in 1816, full of nauseous detail typical of its director.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006

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