Gothic (2002)

50% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(5,603 ratings)

Lurid, kitschy, over the top--what more does one expect from Ken Russell, director of The Devils, Tommy, and Altered States? Gothic purports to tell the story of a night that Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and the future Mary Shelley spent at a country estate and decided to write ghost stories--a night… More Lurid, kitschy, over the top--what more does one expect from Ken Russell, director of The Devils, Tommy, and Altered States? Gothic purports to tell the story of a night that Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and the future Mary Shelley spent at a country estate and decided to write ghost stories--a night that ultimately resulted in Mary writing the novel Frankenstein. These three and a couple of friends romp around the mansion, freaking out at shadows and the sounds of a storm, getting increasingly hysterical and hallucinatory as the night progresses. Thrown into the mix are a mechanical belly dancer, nudity, walking suits of armor, an orgy, séances, grotesque masks, leeches, a pig's head, stigmata, snakes, and God-awful dialogue like "We are the gods now--we have dared to call ourselves creators!" Gabriel Byrne (Byron), Julian Sands (Shelley), and Natasha Richardson (Mary) are all terrible; it's a miracle any of their careers survived. But good or bad isn't really the point with Ken Russell, who aspires to a kind of visual delirium. Gothic isn't the masterpiece of excess that The Lair of the White Worm is, but towards the last half-hour it does achieve a creepy state of disorientation entirely suited to its subject matter. Russell isn't afraid to be trashy in the pursuit of unfettered cinematic symbolism. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it. --Bret Fetzer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Ken Russell
Written By: Stephen Volk
Genres: Drama, Horror, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Mar 14, 2000

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
I'll take my Byron and Shelley straight.
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
'Gothic' can be taken neither seriously nor with a saving pinch of salt.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
There's no sleeping tonight
James O'Ehley, Movie Gurus
I had forgotten just how plain weird director Ken Russell can be . . .
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
A weird and visually memorable film that Russell fans will love and others will find interesting and at least slightly more accessible than most of his other films.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Full-tilt Ken Russell biopic that raises all the right questions about the act of creating art and more
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Typical Ken Russell weirdness.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Robert C

Just rewatched this. What could have been a pretty amazing film, falls a bit flat due to some bad editing. But I still love it to spite all of it's flaws.
Sophie B

I like the original story and if it were done in a more serious and dramatic way (with a fair amount of light-heartedness) this could have been a briliant film. It was simply too weird for my liking although it was made very well. Good acting.
Cindy I

Crazy-ass movie. Ken Russell is a freak.
Greg S

The poets Byron and Shelley, along with FRANKENSTEIN author Mary Shelly and other guests, spend a night drinking laudanum and holding a seance to conjure up their worst nightmares. The non-linear horror story gives Ken Russel a chance to do what he does best--produce lurid,… More
The poets Byron and Shelley, along with FRANKENSTEIN author Mary Shelly and other guests, spend a night drinking laudanum and holding a seance to conjure up their worst nightmares. The non-linear horror story gives Ken Russel a chance to do what he does best--produce lurid, phantasmagorical visions (including a woman with eyes in her breasts)--resulting in one of his better films.
Wahida K

Well this Movie has a messed up Story. A lot of Nudity guaranteed, but there is a less point in the Plot and then the clossing as "Mary Shelleys Frankenstein? I dont deny that I enjoyed it, but I still missed the main thing: what is it all about?
Arash X

Another bizzare & over-the-top nightmarish ride by Ken Russell, Explores the main characters' psyches in an intriguing way and the film's campy style makes it more enjoyable
vieras e

***½ or ****-, I can't quite decide. An atmospheric, nightmarish and trippy recount of the night when Byron, Shelley & co. gathered together to tell ghost stories. Wonderful music and awesome automatons! Steer clear of that laudanum, kids! ;)
Kylie B

Rather surreal fictionalisation of the night Frankenstein was thought up. I particularly liked Timothy Spall as Polidori, and all the creepy-cool automatons. The film plays up Bryon's evil reputation to a slightly ridiculous degree - though Gabriel Byrne seems to enjoy himself… More
Rather surreal fictionalisation of the night Frankenstein was thought up. I particularly liked Timothy Spall as Polidori, and all the creepy-cool automatons. The film plays up Bryon's evil reputation to a slightly ridiculous degree - though Gabriel Byrne seems to enjoy himself somewhat playing it. It being a Russell film there is the obligatory nudity (male and female).
_kelly .

a typical Russell head-trip, not for uneasy stomachs, but also not particularly memorable
Lafe F

A wild night at a gothic mansion with three famous writers. The events which transpire cast a spell. I didn't really get into any of it.
Dean M

Director Ken Russell made this worst horror film bag of tricks: insane hallucinations, group sex, scenes of gruesome murders, and much, much more.
Marcus W

The whole thing reeks of amateur, from the acting to the editing and continuity, and on to the sheer boringness of the whole thing. Unwatchable.

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

Gothic (2002)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

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