Eight Alternative Films With Alternative Characters

In the past I’ve wasted so much time searching for Goth characters in movies and I’ve told you about my favourite alternative characters [here]. While I still swear by those characters, please check them out they’re awesome, there are certainly a lot more. Just a Google search will place a bunch of ‘Goth Films’ in your hand but a lot of the time people don’t know what they’re talking about. I’m going to do mini reviews below to tell you my scope of these ‘Goth worthy’ films. Mini reviews tend to, but may not, contain general comments about particular film techniques, plot points and warnings of inappropriateness and are non-spoiling.

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Pretty In Pink

I love this film a lot more than I like Sixteen Candles – a film set in the same time period with a lot of the same attributes. It stars one of the ‘rejected kids’, a girl by the name of Andie that dresses in self-made and second-hand clothes consisting mostly of Pink. I adore the fashion in this film which inspires me so much. It may not be black but it’s still wonderful. If Pink isn’t your thing you might like the styles of some of the co-starring characters – a male, Duckie, that dresses in an amazing street style and a Punky older friend. The film itself is a typical teen-romance and is almost always cited in awesome romances from the eighties. It’s no wonder it’s still so popular.

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This Must Be The Place

I adore this film. Even though the ending is a terrible re-hash of most films with staring alternative people the main character moving on with his life, magically becoming a happy person and thus throwing away his alternative clothing. Am I the only one that this annoys the hell out of?

Stereotypes aside, after watching the trailer on Youtube [here] – I have no idea how I found it – I couldn’t wait for it’s release last year. The main character is obviously a take on The Cure’s lead singer, Robert Smith. But that isn’t the only Goth in this film with his younger friend, a young Goth girl and fan of his bands music. The story however is a bit more of an acquired taste but with the broad theme of self-acceptance I think the plot of searching to kill a Nazi from Auschwitz is a lot more available to audiences.

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SLC Punk

Let’s face it. I go through phases in which I study different subcultures obsessively. Goths, Skinheads but Punk is one that has really stuck. SLC Punk was a film that I watched when first entranced in the Punk web. And it was everything a good film should be. Absolutely heart-breaking again and again but with a foreseeable conclusion that still has an impact. The film is filled with a documentary-like narration which I love that explains the main characters life-style and about the ‘scene’ – which you shouldn’t take as fact. The ending takes the ‘phase’ trend of alternative characters into a different light that didn’t seem as silly to me – but you’ll have to watch it to find out.

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Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows

Okay, this film is a rather terrible attempt at a follow up to the first film. But there’s something about the atmosphere that always keeps me coming back. I just love the teenage spirited horror film. On the plus side, it’s great for those that hated the first film merely because of the camera technique.

The Goth in this film is a stereotype but it ring rather true with some of the lines, like “People think that because I wear black I’m some kind of sick killer”. Otherwise, from the beginning we see her lying across a grave in a cemetery, wearing a trench-coat, blue highlights in her hair while smoking. I can’t be the only one that thinks she sounds reminiscent of My Immortal? Anyway, don’t get your hopes up for anything spectacular since she’s only the Goth trope in a horror film.

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Doom Generation

This film is certainly R-rated for a reason and I’d suggest those that don’t hold an affinity to gore, sex, violence and language to NOT watch this film. I think Even a glance at the trailer here can give a fragment of this films inappropriateness. I’m usually a fan of such points in films myself but certainly watch at your own discretion!

To actually describe the film, it’s certainly a psychological thriller and definitely a horror. I would love to know what anyone who has seen this thinks of the ending because it is rather sickening. If you enjoyed this I suggest watching the other two in this Trilogy: Totally F***ed Up or Nowhere.

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Ginger Snaps 

When talking about Ginger Snaps and alternative characters I’m only referring to the first film. The first was focusing on the rejected and rebellious teens with a fascination for death and a little bit of a Werewolf problem. The second film they have rather left their ‘alternative’ rebellion and the third, while a good film has almost nothing to do with the first two. If you’re touchy about talk and imagery of menstrual cycles you my want to steer clear of this film.

The characters in question are Ginger and Bridgette that are obviously going through a phase but give lots of great examples on thrifted, alternative fashion – especially as dystopian fashion has recently become so popular. I wish I could steal some of their outfits because they layer like pros.

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Gypsy 83

I never watch films more than a few times, but I couldn’t help but watch this film constantly and for a while everyday. I think it’s because of my penchant for alternative characters. I end up analyzing their outfits and hair-styles and using them as inspiration for my own. It’s also a bonus that the sound track is in constant rotation in my media player. My personal favourites are Nothing-Special by Mechanical Cabaret and Doing The Unstuck by The Cure.

There’s just something fun about watching characters that encompass everything so stereotypically Goth – from their singing and dancing to The Cure or Clive’s school paper on “The Unlikely God-mother Of Goth”. In between all of this there are plot lines which drag it into the reach of those that may not be as enthusiastic about looking at people dress up. Which leads me to mention that there is coarse language and sex scenes (though they aren’t too graphic).

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My First Mister

This is your typical teen film with a bit of a twist. The twist being the trope angsty teen in this film wears lots of purple and black, with a face full of piercings and died black hair. The film loosely addressed the social problems of the alternative teen and an older man that become friends. The film can be quite funny at times and is definitely suitable for a teen or younger audience. It’s quite moralistic in that regard. Overall, I did enjoy this film. It has some humour, suspense and dramatic parts which keep you on edge while you get to know the characters.

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Daria

I love Daria. And there is no doubt in my mind that Daria is an alternative character – along with Jane. When I first watched the entire television series it was from pilot to ending film. There are two films Is It Fall Yet? and Is It Collage Yet? which fit in perfectly. Unlike some sitcoms you shouldn’t be deceived by the appearance of a lack of overall plot because by the end all the episodes play together brilliantly. This is a series I enjoyed so much that I cried throughout it. It’s filled with cliche’s and silly family messages but overall I think it was a really impacting show.

What do you think of my first section of Alternative Characters? Have you seen any of these and what did you think of them? Don’t forget to tell me yours bellow!