Shubhabrata Dutta
Romance is often linked with comedy or drama. However, nothing can be more exciting and intoxicating than romance at its darkest and most morbid. Love can be a wildly fascinating theme to explore, but few films have peeled off the darkest layers of this tender, most human emotion. It might be our voyeuristic pleasure as cinephiles but to watch something dark and disturbing that isn’t, in reality, happening to us is a peculiar nature ingrained in human beings. So, with all that said, let’s take a look at the list of the best dark romantic movies of all time.
20. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
A film that upped the ante of BDSM in mainstream movies, Sam Taylor-Johnson’s ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is based on E. L. James’ 2011 eponymous novel. It centers on the toxic sadomasochistic affair between college graduate Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and billionaire entrepreneur Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). Their affair is supposed to be a secret, but it’s only a matter of time before bondage in the bedroom becomes a taken-for-granted affair.
Since its release, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ has been a topic of debate regarding taboos in society and their depiction in films. Good or bad, the film certainly carries a dark, romantic tone and can be streamed on Prime.
19. Deep Water (2022)
Directed by Adrian Lyne, ‘Deep Water’ explores the toxic dynamic between Vic (Ben Affleck) and Melinda (Ana de Armas), a married couple with a child. The only reason why they don’t file for divorce is to not let their strained relationship affect their kid and have thus landed at an agreement- Melinda can sleep with other guys.
Unfortunately, Vic’s jealousy towards Melinda’s new dates coincides with the mysterious death of one of them. Is Vic really the murderer? Based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1957 novel, ‘Deep Water’ is a dark and twisted romantic drama that addresses the dark corners of the human psyche, propelled by lust, desire, and deceit. You can watch the film on Hulu.
18. Grosse Point Blank (1997)
The classic 80s-themed comedy crime drama focuses on a professional assassin, Martin Blank (John Cusack), who finds himself growing increasingly tired of his work. He soon receives an invitation to a high school reunion but doesn’t seem interested in the same. However, his therapist and secretary convince him to attend the reunion and plan on coinciding with his new assignment with the function.
Martin happens to meet his high school sweetheart, Debi (Minnie Driver), with whom he tries to reconcile but things take a wild turn as Martin realizes that someone is out to kill him. The plot unfolds with wild twists and turns, and Martin opens up to Debi about his past and how he ended up being the man he is at present. The film is an absolute fun ride with a delectable mix of violence, comedy, and romance. You can watch it on Prime.
17. Harold and Maude (1971)
The film may be a surprising pick for many because apparently there’s nothing dark about it although a romance between a 20-year-old and a woman in her 80s may seem quite strange and unusual. However, it’s the dark, awkward tone that is present throughout the film that seals its spot on the list.
Harold is an emotionally disturbed, lonely fellow obsessed with death who frequently attends funerals. At one funeral, he meets an 80-year-old woman, and the two begin a strange, awkward relationship that takes the form of a romance. Their contrasting views on life and death form much of the film’s thematic aspects. The film manages to blend elements of comedy, romance, and existentialism. It can be streamed on Paramount+.
16. Hallam Foe (2007)
‘Hallam Foe’ centers around a teenage boy who is obsessed with his mother and believes that her stepmother is responsible for her death. He runs away to Edinburgh and meets a woman who gives him a job. She reminds him of his mother, and the two develop a strange, emotionally complex relationship with dark, mysterious tones. Hallam is desperate for motherly love and affection and falls into Kate’s arms despite initially being hesitant as he tries to make up for the emotional vacuüm created by his mother’s death. Certainly dark and twisted, ‘Hallam Foe’ is a British drama that can be streamed on Tubi.
15. Days of Heaven (1978)
‘Days of Heaven’ is on the list purely because of the kind of dark and mysterious feeling it evokes in you. ‘Days of Heaven’ is Terrence Malick’s second feature after ‘Badlands,’ and it continues his exploration of dark, tragic romance set in the serene lands of Americana. There’s a hauntingly surreal and poetic beauty that makes the film such an emotionally enriching experience. The genius of Malick turns a brutal and tragic romance into something seductively gorgeous and intriguing. ‘Days of Heaven’ can be streamed on Prime.
14. True Romance (1993)
‘True Romance’ tells the story of a nerdy Elvis Presley fanatic who meets a call girl and falls in love with her. The two set out on a journey to California, trying to sell cocaine stolen from a pimp in California. Written by Quentin Tarantino, the film seamlessly fuses elements of crime drama, black comedy, and romance and is translated on-screen by director Tony Scott with raw energy and passion. The characters have a refreshing feel and quality, and they are unapologetically themselves. The romance here is exciting, adrenaline-pumping, and darkly funny in its tone. You can stream the film on Prime.
13. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Directed by Jim Jarmusch, ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ follows two lovers/vampires who have been walking the face of the Earth for centuries. Adam (Tom Hiddleston) lives in an old house in Michigan surrounded by musical instruments while Eve (Tilda Swinton) lives in Tangier, Morocco, surrounded by books.
The way humanity has turned out has taken a toll on Adam, and Eve, after finding out about his condition, arrives in Michigan to be with him. However, their reunion is compromised by the surprise arrival of Eve’s wild and reckless younger sister, Ava (Mia Wasikowska). Can sophistication stand strong in the face of destruction? Nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ is a grounded take on vampirism in movies and is easily one of the best dark romances out there. You can watch it on Prime.
12. The Skin I Live in (2011)
Pedro Almodovar’s ‘The Skin I Live in’ tells the story of a plastic surgeon who, after years of hard work, has managed to create a type of skin that protects the body from burns. He tests this experiment on a woman named Vera, who resembles his dead wife. Robert and Vera develop a strange relationship that turns into something very dark when we are revealed about the characters, their past, and the reason for their actions. It’s stunning what Almodovar manages to achieve here as he exquisitely blends elements of romance, horror, and suspense to craft a fascinating story about identity and pain. You can watch the film on Max.
11. The Reader (2008)
‘The Reader’ tells the story of a teenager who meets a 36-year-old woman and develops a complex emotional and sexual relationship with her that would have a lasting impact on his life. Hanna Schmitz is quite an enigma. She remains emotionally distant from Michael and asks him to read her books after every time they make love.
Driven by sexual desires and emotional needs, their relationship grows increasingly closer but echoes from Hanna’s past come to haunt her back and wrecks their relationship. It’s a beautifully dark, tragic tale of romance portrayed with astonishing humanity and restrained emotional complexity. ‘The Reader’ can be watched on Prime.
10. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
Romance is a theme that runs underneath the tragedy in ‘Sophie’s Choice.’ Sophie is involved in a complex relationship with Nathan, a mentally troubled man who often gets very violent. A young writer named Stingo moves to their apartment in Brooklyn, and the three become friends. Stingo learns more about Sophie and her past as he begins to develop feelings for her. Demons from Sophie’s past haunt her as it wrecks her life, relationships, and desires. The romance here is dark, painful, and profoundly tragic. ‘Sophie’s Choice’ can be streamed on Tubi.
9. Wild at Heart (1990)
Described by David Lynch as “a picture about finding love in hell,” ‘Wild at Heart’ is one of the funniest and darkest romantic movies of all time. It follows a young couple that runs away from the woman’s mother and the people she hires to kill the man. Darkness here exists in the world the couple is thrown into.
As Lynch says, it’s hell, bizarre, and strange, and the depths of their true feelings are questioned as they reveal more about themselves through happenings that unfold during their journey. The film might seem a bit too conventional for Lynch’s standards but nevertheless, it’s a dark, humorous portrait of romance in an unapologetic world.
8. Revolutionary Road (2008)
‘Revolutionary Road’ is simply one of the most harrowing and depressing romantic films ever made. The film tells the story of an ordinary couple who seem to live a happy life with their children in the suburbs of Connecticut. However, marriage exposes its dark sides, and realities begin to consume them as each of them gets caught up in their own world. It’s an extremely painful experience, watching these two people tear themselves apart emotionally and wreck their own lives. The film is a deeply disturbing and unflinching portrait of a marriage and doesn’t shy away from the ugliest of realities. The film can be streamed on Prime.
7. Badlands (1973)
Director Terrence Malick’s stunning debut is a dark, poetic tale of romance, isolation, and violence. The film focuses on a couple that runs away after murdering the girl’s father. Bounty hunters begin chasing them as the couple goes on a killing spree while trying to reach the Badlands of Montana.
Holly and Kit are passionately in love. Holly is 15 years old and looking for a father figure, someone she can hold on to, and she sees just that in the 25-year-old Kit. Malick portrays their relationship in a very disturbing manner. Both remain cold to violence as they murder people around them and are obsessed with each other. The film is an utterly dark and frightening portrait of a romance that seduces you with its emotional rawness and poetic brutality. It can be streamed on Prime.
6. Bones and All (2022)
The graphic and authentic take on cannibalism in Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Bones and All’ blends perfectly with its romantic plot, giving us a unique drama that is stirring and profound. The film follows two cannibals, Maren (Taylor Russell) and Sully (Timothée Chalamet), on a cross-country road trip to Minnesota while surviving on human flesh. As they develop a love-hate relationship, the apparent monstrosity of their nature takes its toll and leads to an ending that is as horrific as it is painful. The film earned Guadagnino the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival, among many other accolades. You can watch it on Prime.
5. Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)
Pedro Almodovar’s ‘Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!’ tells the story of a psychiatric patient who is recently released from a mental institution and is determined to win the love of a woman he once slept with. She doesn’t remember him, but he is adamant and desperate to win her love, even if it requires him to hurt her. He sneaks inside her house and ties her up. In a bizarre twist and turn of events, things change dramatically, and the woman genuinely begins to feel his pain. The film generated a significant amount of controversy due to its visually explicit style and provocative approach. It can be streamed on Max.
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
Technically, ‘Blue Velvet’ might be a mystery film but romance happens to be one of the many themes the film deals with. It follows a young man who discovers a severed head near his house, and it leads him to a gorgeous nightclub singer with whom he develops a frighteningly bizarre relationship full of passion and violence.
Dorothy is a disturbed woman with masochistic fantasies that terrify Jeffrey. Their relationship seems violent and frightening on the surface but its raw emotional energy makes it feel genuine and passionate. Things get further complicated when it is revealed that Dorothy’s son is kidnapped by a psychopathic gangster, leading to a chaotic, nerve-racking climax. ‘Blue Velvet’ can be streamed on Tubi.
3. Blue Valentine (2010)
A true-to-form R-rated dark romance directed by Derek Cianfrance, ‘Blue Valentine’ offers a no-holds-barred angle on the issues that a romantic relationship brings and how bad a toll it can take. The film shifts between past and present to explore the courtship and the married life of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams).
A raw and intimate portrayal of the two characters, including their misunderstandings, their relationship with their daughter, and their respective pasts, make ‘Blue Valentine’ no less than a thesis on the human condition. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams both received Golden Globe nominations for their brilliant performances. You can watch the film on Tubi.
2. Mulholland Drive (2001)
What happens when your ambitions and desires get shattered like pieces or fragments from a dream you can hardly remember? ‘Mulholland Drive’ is that dream or, perhaps, that nightmare. It centers on two women who work together to find the true identity of one of them in a dreamy Los Angeles after she loses her memory in a car crash.
The film tells a dark, tragic love story encompassing every aspect of human desires and ambitions. It’s disturbing not in its imagery but in its sadness that is pure and naked. The sheer humanity of the film is something that floors viewers every time, and Lynch’s hypnotic powers seduce you into his world of lust, obsessions, desires, love, and nightmares that turn out to be a gateway into your own self. You can stream the film on Prime.
1. The Piano Teacher (2001)
It’s a sin to expect romance to be all that simple, heartwarming, and comforting when you know that Michael Haneke is the man behind it. ‘The Piano Teacher’ might just be his most heart-wrenching film. Haneke once said in an interview that violence comes out of fear, and this is absolutely true in the case of Erika Kohut.
She is scared of herself, scared of falling in love, and scared that people would hate her and throw her back into the shell of a world she’s been in all through her life. She loves her much younger student, Walter, but is scared of herself and the fact that when he gets to know her, he might hate her. The film is incredibly painful, tragic, and haunting. You can watch ‘The Piano Teacher’ on Max.
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