Brontë adaptations explore gothic theatre and horror film

Recent adaptations of works by the Brontë sisters are exploring different genre interpretations. At the Rose Theatre in Kingston, a new production of Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’ offers a highly stylized, minimalist, and gothic take on the classic novel. The staging utilizes black bleachers and integrated speakers to project monologues and set the mood, featuring performances by Olivia Marcus as Jane Eyre and Gabriel Akuwudike as Edward Rochester.

In contrast, a new film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ titled ‘House of the Damned’ leans heavily into the horror genre. Released on VOD, the film by Rebecca J. Matthews and screenwriter Liana Failla reimagines the gothic romance as a horror story where natural deaths are depicted as unnatural and gory. While the production faced budget constraints, it aims to transform the source material into a strategic horror adaptation rather than a simple exploitation film.