Gothic Elements in Van Helsing Movie Essay Example

Gothic literature is a style of writing that uses elements such as fear, horror, death, and gloom, as well as romantic aspects such as individuality and nature. Gothic literature employs the use of attractive scenery such as castles, as well as melodramatic narrative devices. This essay will explain the use of Gothic elements in the popular movie Van Helsing. The 2004 movie starts with the introduction of Gabriel Van Helsing, a monster hunter who seeks redemption after having his memory taken away by God for a previous sin. Van Helsing is sent to Transylvania by the Vatican to destroy Count Dracula. Once in Transylvania Van Helsing and his companion friar Carl, team up with Anna Valerious. Anna informs Van Helsing upon arrival that Dr. Frankenstein and Count Dracula have allied by combining their army of monsters. After locating Dracula's Castle, Van Helsing and Anna begin to attack Dracula and his army. Van Helsing and Dracula fight gruesomely holding nothing back and through battle, it is revealed to Dracula that Van Helsing is now a werewolf with extraordinary powers. The battle resulted in the death of Dracula but the loss of Anna, whom Van Helsing loved. Van Helsing as a character represents Gothic literature because of the truth behind his character and his misjudgment of his character which creates a suspenseful film. 

 The film Van Helsing is an accurate example of a Gothic film. This is shown by the author's use of Gothic themes being explored in the film such as justice, revenge, romance, intense emotions, dreams, supernatural, vampires, and family curses. Romance and intense emotions are also an important part of this Gothic films because they intrigue the viewer and make them want to see more of the story. The Romance resides between Van Helsing and Anna who fall in love in a short amount of time, for her to die in the end while battling Dracula and his army. Gothic romances are mysteries, often involving the supernatural and horror. This is made apparent to the audience by the romance between Van Helsing and Anna. Van Helsing has lived for over 400 years and becomes a werewolf, this is mysterious and also supernatural. Their romance was against a dark background of medieval ruins and castles.

The film uses Gothic features in the setting of Van Helsing where heavy rain, wind, stormy weather, isolated churches, secret passageways, a sense of mystery, and tall towers. The Gothic settings of this film create an atmosphere of suspense that the audience can imagine in their dreams. Another strong Gothic element used in the film is Dreams, the supernatural and curses are all common conventions used in Gothic films and literature. Dreams reveal to the audience what the character is often too afraid to realize about himself or herself. This would be Van Helsing being afraid of his past because Dracula somehow knew that Van Helsing had horrible nightmares that involved horrific scenes of ancient battles from his past. The supernatural is a key defining element in the Gothic genre. Gothic writers use the supernatural to build suspense and create special effects for the viewer. Supernatural events and characters in this film include vampires, monsters, werewolves, Dracula's minions, Dracula's offspring, and walking a mirror. This includes the curse that haunts the Valerious Family, as her ancestors swore to God that their family shall not rest nor enter heaven until they have vanquished Dracula from their land. This led to Anna's family dying of Dracula's doing.

Van Helsing is an entertaining movie that contains many Gothic elements by following the character of Van Helsing. The film's Gothic elements include Gothic literature a style of writing that uses elements such as fear, horror, death, and gloom, as well as romantic aspects such as individuality and nature. Gothic literature employs the use of attractive scenery such as castles, as well as melodramatic narrative devices. This essay will explain the use of Gothic elements in the popular movie Van Helsing. The 2004 movie starts with the introduction of Gabriel Van Helsing, a monster hunter who seeks redemption after having his memory taken away by God for a previous sin. Van Helsing is sent to Transylvania by the Vatican to destroy Count Dracula. Once in Transylvania Van Helsing and his companion friar Carl, team up with Anna Valerious. Anna informs Van Helsing upon arrival that Dr. Frankenstein and Count Dracula have allied by combining their army of monsters. After locating Dracula's Castle, Van Helsing and Anna begin to attack Dracula and his army. Van Helsing and Dracula fight gruesomely holding nothing back and through battle, it is revealed to Dracula that Van Helsing is now a werewolf with extraordinary powers. The battle resulted in the death of Dracula but the loss of Anna, whom Van Helsing loved. Van Helsing as a character represents Gothic literature because of the truth behind his character and his misjudgment of his character which creates a suspenseful film. 

 The film Van Helsing is an accurate example of a Gothic film. This is shown by the author's use of Gothic themes being explored in the film such as justice, revenge, romance, intense emotions, dreams, supernatural, vampires, and family curses. Romance and intense emotions are also an important part of this Gothic film because they intrigue the viewer and make them want to see more of the story. The Romance resides between Van Helsing and Anna who fall in love in a short amount of time, for her to die in the end while battling Dracula and his army. Gothic romances are mysteries, often involving the supernatural and horror. This is made apparent to the audience by the romance between Van Helsing and Anna. Van Helsing has lived for over 400 years and becomes a werewolf, this is mysterious and also supernatural. Their romance was against a dark background of medieval ruins and castles.

The film uses Gothic features in the setting of Van Helsing where heavy rain, wind, stormy weather, isolated churches, secret passageways, a sense of mystery, and tall towers. The Gothic settings of this film create an atmosphere of suspense that the audience can imagine in their dreams. Another strong Gothic element used in the film is Dreams, the supernatural and curses are all common conventions used in Gothic film and literature. Dreams reveal to the audience what the character is often too afraid to realize about himself or herself. This would be Van Helsing being afraid of his past because Dracula somehow knew that Van Helsing had horrible nightmares that involved horrific scenes of ancient battles from his past. The supernatural is a key defining element in the Gothic genre. Gothic writers use the supernatural to build suspense and create special effects for the viewer. Supernatural events and characters in this film include vampires, monsters, werewolves, Dracula's minions, Dracula's offspring, and walking a mirror. This includes the curse that haunts the Valerious Family, as her ancestors swore to God that their family shall not rest nor enter heaven until they have vanquished Dracula from their land. This led to Anna's family dying of Dracula's doing.

Van Helsing is an entertaining movie that contains many Gothic elements by following the character of Van Helsing. The film's Gothic elements include Van Helsing's love for Anna, as well as her death. The film's Gothic elements play an important role in Van Helsing learning the truth about his missing memories. Van Helsing as a character represents Gothic literature because of the truth behind his character and his misjudgment of his character which creates a suspenseful film. This film has many similarities to other Gothic films that have been covered in this module such as Dracula, rime of the ancient mariner, and Frankenstein. The film's Gothic elements play an important role in Van Helsing learning the truth about his missing memories. Van Helsing as a character represents Gothic literature because of the truth behind his character and his misjudgment of his character which creates a suspenseful film. This film has many similarities to other Gothic films that have been covered in this module such as Dracula, rime of the ancient mariner, and Frankenstein.