Films with a great dark aesthetic?

[Eonas]

When I watch a film, what interests me most is the film's aesthetic or vibe: how it looks and sounds, how it feels, how it totally penetrates your subconscious. My favorite aesthetics are on the dark, gothic, grungy side of the spectrum. Some examples are the Matrix series and the Underworld series, Tim Burton's Batman and the whole Batman Begins/Dark Knight reboot, the 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, and practically every Tim Burton film ever.

Does anybody else know of any other films or TV shows with a really dark aesthetic?

[Tengu_temp]

Dark City. It's even in the title!

[Tebryn]

Dead Poet Society?

[Forum Explorer]

It's not the same as the other's but Pan's Labyrinth had a pretty dark aesthetic for most of the movie.

[Mx.Silver]

Blade Runner might be a decent choice. It's more grimy and noir-ish than gothic, but it's definitely dark. Plus it pretty much oozes atmosphere (as well as being an extremely influential work of SF).

[Cen]

whole Batman Begins/Dark Knight reboot, the 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake,

That's not great dark aesthetic :/

Have you tried Sin City? Dark Knight returns? Blade RUnner?
Or less superhero-y one: The pianist? Shindler's list?

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

Mirrormask.

Dark City.

Coraline.

Pan's Labyrinth.

Imaginaerum.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Pirates of the Caribbean II AND III.

Harry Potter VI through IIX.

[dps]

First thing that springs to mind is M. Post-WWI German expressionism in general fits.

[Grinner]

You might like the television series Supernatural.

[Ravens_cry]

Coraline has a pretty 'dark' feel. Not grungy, but very gothic and mysterious, yet hauntingly beautiful. The music alone is worth a listen for its soul twisting uncanniness

[GoblinArchmage]

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

More dark movies from Terry Gilliam: Twelve Monkeys, The Brothers Grimm, and to some extent Time Bandits. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen isn't that dark, from what I can remember. I imagine that Brazil probably is, but I can't say for sure, because I still haven't seen it. The Monty Python movies can be kind of dark at times, too.

The Coen Brothers have some Gothic feeling films as well. Fargo is an absolute masterpiece, and Miller's Crossing and A Serious Man are really good, too. I still haven't seen Blood Simple, Barton Fink, or No Country for Old Men, but from what I do know, they would also probably interest you. The Big Lebowski is also a masterpiece, but I don't think it's what you are looking for.

[BWR]

Post-WWI German expressionism in general fits.

Oooo, yes!
Nosferatu, Dr. Mabuse, the Cabinet of Dr. Calligari.

I don't know what those guys did to make their movies work so well. Nosferatu is still the creepiest vampire movie I've seen.

[Feytalist]

Anything inspired by anything Philip K. Dick made. Blade Runner is the big one, but Total Recall (also the new one) as well. Minority Report... hmm maybe. Bit slick, that one. A Scanner Darkly, if only for the weird visuals.

There's Johnny Mnemonic as well.

For grungy we have Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan.

Also for the Romantic Gothic feel, you can do a lot worse than Interview with a Vampire.

[Eldan]

I imagine that Brazil probably is, but I can't say for sure, because I still haven't seen it. The Monty Python movies can be kind of dark at times, too.

I haven't seen Grimm, but of those I've seen, Brazil is probably Gilliam's weirdest movie. It's very dark and dystopic in an Orwellian way, but it is also has a weird sense of absurd humour. It is excellent, though.

[Grinner]

Gah! How did I forget Ink!? You absolutely must watch Ink!

[Wookieetank]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for such a cheery title, the movie is all sortsa bleak and depressing for most of it. Prolly one of my top 5 favorite movies though.

I'll also second (third?) Coraline. Go watch it right now! We need more movies like this one.

Hemlock Grove (TV Show) is a nice gritty take on supernatural critters trying to live "normal" lives. Not as bleak as The Walking Dead, but still has a decent ammount of seriousness and tension.

If you enjoy anime I highly reccomend Saikano and Neon Genesis Evangelion if you haven't seen them.

[Knaight]

Among older films, there's always Soylent Green.

[Moak]

No love for The Crow ?

[Yora]

I don't know what those guys did to make their movies work so well. Nosferatu is still the creepiest vampire movie I've seen.

I just watched it with my mom, as it was filmed in our city. (The Vampire goes to Bremen instead of London, because it was cheaper to get there, but most of the street scenes were actually filmed in Lübeck.) Having seen Metropolis, this is a really weird movie, you can clearly see the massive leaps in production technique made in those few years. (Or else, Nosferatu was terribly cheaply made.) And it kind of feels they ran out of money and had to wrap up the story early, but it's still a visually interesting movie.

Another good one would be Alien.

[Clertar]

2046 (the Wong Kar Wai movie.)

[Irvy]

Dark films:

Crimson Peak

The Babadook

It Follows

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

The Witch

Under the Skin

Kill List

The Lighthouse <- my personal fave!! so good

[Trixie_One]

Event Horizon. It's basically an unofficial Warhammer 40k film about humanity getting a first exposure to the warp and why Geller fields are going to be such an important invention down the line.

[Ranxerox]

Silence of the Lamb

Se7en

Jacob's Ladder

[Peelee]

The Mod on the Silver Mountain: Night of the Living Thread