Weirdhouse Cinema: Alucarda

Edgar Allan Poe's 'The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether' unfolds within the walls of a mental asylum, where a visitor expects to witness a revolutionary new treatment method. Instead, he finds himself amidst chaos as the inmates have overthrown the staff and are now running the institution. The story cleverly blurs the lines between sanity and madness, leaving the reader questioning the true nature of the 'soothing system' employed. As the narrative progresses, the unsettling reality behind the facade is revealed, showcasing Poe's mastery in creating suspense and exploring the depths of human psychology.

The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread terror and create more vampires. The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a property to Count Dracula. Upon discovering Dracula's true nature, Harker barely escapes with his life. Dracula then travels to England, where he targets Harker's fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy. A group of characters, including Professor Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris, band together to hunt down and destroy Dracula. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, modernity vs. tradition, and the fears and anxieties of the Victorian era, including immigration, sexual desire, and the role of women in society.

Carmilla, di Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, è un romanzo gotico che narra la storia di una vampira che seduce e terrorizza una giovane donna. Il romanzo esplora temi di desiderio represso, identità sessuale e la natura ambigua del bene e del male. L'atmosfera misteriosa e inquietante, insieme alla complessità psicologica dei personaggi, rendono Carmilla un classico del genere horror. La storia è ambientata in un castello isolato e misterioso, creando un'atmosfera di suspense e terrore. Il romanzo ha influenzato numerosi altri lavori nel genere horror, in particolare Dracula di Bram Stoker.