Usually goths only visit the cinema when Mr. Burton has another film out or Kate Beckinsale finds another excuse to wrap herself in rubber. This year, however, it seems there are several other reasons to pay an extortionate ticket price to sit in the dark rather than doing it at home for free. Among the barrage of tired rom-coms with 'that guy' in, action movies with more explosions than dialogue and Disney re-hashes there are a few potentially decent, dark movies coming to the big screen.

Out now :The Woman In Black

Well, out on February 10th actually but close enough. This is a re-imagining of the long running play by the same name and stars everyone's favourite bespectacled child-wizard Daniel Radcliffe. If reviews are to be believed the film is skin-crawlingly scary in a tense and subtle way. Even though some aspects of the film have been altered, the story of a young lawyer sent to a small village and ends up having  to deal with a terrifying ghost is still a well told one. Although the change of ending might disappoint hardcore fans of the original tale there is some consolation in Radcliffe looking rather dashing in Victoriana. And being chased by a ghost without a wand in his hand.

Coming Soon : The Raven

Starring everyone's favourite odd-hero actor (after Johnny Depp) this year's 'The Raven' is not a remake of the 60s classic Vincent Price movie (thank goodness). In this story, in cinemas from 27th April, morbid author and gothic literature favourite Edgar Allan Poe is played by kooky John Cusack and he does more than just write depressing prose. E.A. Poe is asked to help investigate a series of murders when it is discovered that his poems are the inspiration. Gothic poet turned super sleuth? Sounds slightly tenuous, but the vision of Cusack in period costume might make up for it.

Summer Release : Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

One of America's best-loved presidents, who helped abolish slavery and get the US through a civil war, is also Buffy's predecessor? Although the title and plot sound dubious the film, due for release in August, has some decent credentials to back it up. The movie's writer Seth Grahame-Smith also wrote the acclaimed parody novel 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'. The director, Timur Bekmambetov, previously worked on popular vampire flicks 'Night Watch' and 'Day Watch'. Tim Burton is one of the producers. The guy who played Wash in 'Firefly' is in it (who doesn't like Firefly?). The story goes that Abraham Lincoln's mother is killed by a creature of the night which spurs him on to hunt them down and kill them. With an axe. Benjamin Walker, who plays the title role, is also due to star as the archangel Michael in 'Paradise Lost' (promising title) which is still in production, due for release in 2013.