20 weirdest period dramas

Heaving bosoms, sweeping country estates, clandestine glances... Period dramas are all about those tied-down emotions, secret passions and, yes, impressive National Trust locations.

And when we say 'greatest', we really mean 'weirdest'. Here are some of the oddest, bloodiest and creepiest films set in past times...

The Mummy (1999)

The Period: It's a loose remake of the 1932 Universal monster movie, and Stephen Sommers' film sticks to that period, setting its action mostly in 1926.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

The Period: The early 1800s the film begins with a flashback to 1818 before skipping forward nine years to 1827.

The Conjuring (2012)

The Period: Inspired by the real-life investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, James Wan's chiller is set in 1971.

Ravenous (1999)

The Period: California in the 1840s.

Outlander (2008)

The Period: Howard McCain's Viking era genre-splicer is set around 709 AD.

Dorian Gray (2009)

The Period: Like Oscar Wilde's 1891 novel, Oliver Parker's adaptation is set in Victorian era London.

Interview With The Vampire (1994)

The Period: The story begins in 1791, though it also covers the next 100 years, notably stopping off in 1870.

From Hell (2001)

The Period: The late 19th century, or 1888 to be more precise.

Ginger Snaps Back (2004)

The Period: This prequel to the cult werewolf flick is set in 1818.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

The Period: Though it's loosely inspired by a short story from 1820, Tim Burton's film is set a little earlier in 1799.

Brotherhood Of The Wolf (2001)

The Period: Inspired by real-life killings in 18th century France, Christophe Gans' film is set in 1764.

Army Of Darkness (1992)

The Period: The third film in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead saga is set in 1300 AD.

Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (1994)

The Period: Though Mary Shelley's book is set in an unspecified time during the 18th century, Kenneth Branagh's gothic adap begins in 1794 before flashbacking to an earlier time.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)

The Period: Inspired by real events (plus Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical), Tim Burton's film takes place in 1846.

The Time Machine (2002)

The Period: Simon Wells' adaptation of HG Wells' classic tome opens in the year 1899.

The Others (2001)

The Period: The 1940s, during the aftermath of World War II.

The Woman In Black (2012)

The Period: Though the film's Edwardian setting is never explicitly dated, gravestones suggest it's set around 1916.

The Devil's Backbone (2001)

The Period: Guillermo del Toro's film is set during the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

The Period: The majority of the action takes place in 1897, though we do also get a flashback to 1462.

Deathwatch (2002)

The Period: Michael J. Bassett's war-torn drama is set during the First World War.