Before the genre of horror broadened and evolved to what it is today, its pre-cursor was breaking boundaries and subverting expectations within film and literature. So,gothic horror holds a special place within the genreand there are many films that aim to re-capture that initial magic. However, due to the strict tropes and atmosphere that the sub-genre demands, it’s not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea and sometimes can be intimidating to get into. If there was any gateway into this historically significant sub-genre, it is 2021’sThe Manor. As a part ofAmazon’s “Welcome to Blumhouse” collectionand directed byAxelle Carolyn,this modernized gothic horror makes the sub-genre accessible to even the newest fans, and is the perfect way to introduce yourself to and fall in love with all things gothic.
What Is Blumhouse’s ‘The Manor’ About?
The Manorkicks off with a tale as old as time. Judith (Barbara Hershey) is getting older, and her medical conditions are making it hard for her family to take care of her, so despite the protests of her grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander), she is sent to a nursing home.Judith soon suspects something more nefarious going on in the nursing home, as ominous shadows loom over her bed at night and staff members behave strangely. However, as the film progresses, Judith’s agency is slowly stripped from her, from the seemingly innocuous rule of not having cell phones to being diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases that threaten her credibility whenever she tries to make someone listen to her ordeal. Throughout the film, Judith tries to figure out exactly what is unfolding, leading to a genuinely jaw-dropping ending that sealshow truly gothic this misleading movie is.
‘The Manor’ Makes Gothic Tropes and Atmospheres Accessible
Despite the modern setting,The Manorencapsulates all the classical gothic tropesthat define the sub-genre. This includes being locked up, a “castle,” supernatural elements, not being believed and a seemingly helpless woman at the crux of it all.A nursing home becomes the perfect setting to bring forth these tropes in today’s world, as the extravagant titular location has echoes of gothic architecture, mimicking a castle, and doling out diagnoses is a legitimate way to entrap someone physically and psychologically. The modernization of these tropes packages the sub-genre in an easy-to-consume premise and atmosphere that subsequently makes the tropes accessible and relatable.
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The atmosphere in question is crafted brilliantly with director Carolyn at the helm, where tension and paranoia are at the forefront of each narrative beat.We are invited to question everything alongside Judith, making her investigation almost unfold like a whodunit, a popular subsection of film that nearly everyone enjoys. By creating this feel, where we are also searching for clues to explain the lingering entities and creepy staff members, the film is completely immersive, making us jump at the eerie score and shifty shadows. Paranoia isarguably the foundation of gothic horror, and thus, emphasizing this atmosphere and extending it to the audience is the perfect wayThe Manoreases new fans into the sub-genre.
Hershey Gives a Relatable, Paranoid Performance in ‘The Manor’
One of the major contributing factors toThe Manor’s success with constructing a paranoid and dread-laden atmosphere is Hershey’s performance as Judith. She is at the center of the premise and the atmosphere, as we traverse the gothic landscape through her eyes. In some respects, sheleans into the idea of an unreliable narrator, as the more Judith’s theories and suspicions are dismissed by those around her, the more panic Hershey imbues into her demeanor.She slowly evolves into the haggard, paranoid, helpless elderly person she is framed to be, so can we believe her as well?It’s an exciting way to play with our expectations, especially as we start questioning the person we were taught to trust at the beginning of the film, making us further tighten our grip on the burning questions that we hope to get answers for by the end of it.
While Hershey leans deliciously into the psychological spiral of it all, she strikes a balance between paranoia and maintaining a relatability, especially through her relationship with her grandson. Alexander plays Gary as a relatable grandson who is looking out for his grandmother but is torn between the person he has grown to know and everything the doctors are telling him.Their relationship will undoubtedly remind many people of their own relationship with the grandparent or grandchild, with a lived-in feel that is inviting and warm. But it is this relationship that also primes us for the final twist, one thatembodies gothic horror in its most chilling, outrageous and satisfying form. Once again, by creating such an accessible relationship,The Manorensures its gothic elements are delivered with all the emotional impact it deserves.
Gothic horror may seem like it is restricted to inflexible demandswhere specific films likeDraculaorWuthering Heightscome to mind, butThe Manorproves there is leeway to play and makes the sub-genre enjoyable for everyone. By modernizing the sub-genre while still capturing its timeless, creepy charm,the film is perfect for those who wish to dip their toes and experience a new kind of thrill. And you might just get hooked enough on the undulating paranoia to delve deeper into the shadows of all things gothic.
