In 1922, German film director F. W. Murnau premiered his silent expressionist vampire film, Nosferatu , based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic horror novel, Dracula. Since then, several iterations have come and gone with varying degrees of faithfulness to the source material. An announcement 93 years later would see Robert Eggers writing and directing another remake. Yet, with several scheduling conflicts and unforeseen challenges, the film would not begin production for another eight years. Be that as it may, Eggers’ long-awaited adaptation is here. Nosferatu is a stunning gothic horror remake that puts terror back into vampire lore.
Lily-Rose Depp stars as Ellen Hutter, a young woman living in marital bliss with her husband, Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult). Despite frequent visions of a terrifying entity seeking to threaten her happiness and well-being, Ellen is sure about her future. Thomas is a new employer of a real estate agency. For his first assignment, his supervisor tasks Thomas with handling the affairs of Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), who seeks to expand his property ownership. Simultaneously, Ellen’s visions grow stronger in frequency and intensity, often feeling like connections to another world.
In actuality, a vampire in a far-away castle is plotting to overtake the town and use Ellen as a vessel to disturb and create fear. On his way to Orlok’s estate, Thomas stumbles upon a small village to rest. Right away, Eggers sets us up to expect impending danger based on the interactions Thomas has with the villagers. Odd traditions and rituals in the woods plus everyone’s natural gravitation towards garlic are manifestations of the villagers’ belief in and fear of vampires. Yet, Hoult’s Hutter is adamant about thinking everyone is just “crazy,” a classic tactic in horror filmmaking.
Nosferatu's Technical Achievements Lead To A Haunting Watching Experience
As the film progresses, Orlok reveals himself in due time and Hutter quickly goes from nonbeliever to victim. In these moments, Eggers plays his cards extremely well with his direction, inviting us to settle in a dual state of curiosity and hypervigilance. One standout sequence is Orlok’s journey to town as added cargo on a ship. Think of it as a shorter version of The Last Voyage of the Demeter, but one that is far more effective at inciting shock, awe, and terror. Robin Carolan’s score is the cherry on top, fittingly haunting and nerve-wracking in all the right places.
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Nosferatu was mostly shot in Prague, which contributed to the film’s stunning cinematography. The Gothic architecture blends well with the story’s tone, both of which Eggers uses effectively to ensure every frame feels pertinent to the storytelling and atmosphere. With these additives, the film remains respectful to the original while also serving as a creative playground for Eggers’ imagination; a great experience, might I add, thanks to building off previous works like The Lighthouse and The Witch. Continuing his filmmaking journey of creating eerily atmospheric works, Nosferatu is a stunning achievement for the director.
The Cast Will Make You Believe In Vampires
Though the film will not make you jump out of your seat, its intentional framing and design lead us to a naturally unnerving state. For one, we don’t fully see Count Orlok during his first moments onscreen. Instead, Eggers uses shadows and lighting to maintain a level of suspense that carries us through until a full reveal. Akin to an evil growing within before it fully emerges, our star vampire lurks about deliberately until he’s ready to pounce for blood. Skarsgård, as the bloodthirsty predator, undergoes a phenomenal transformation. The payoff is enormous and it’s integral to the film’s success.
Gorgeous cinematography and an exceptional score elevate this tale of obsessive torment.
With such a stunning feature, it’s just as crucial that the remainder of the cast delivers convincing performances. Hoult and Depp are paramount in Nosferatu. Their individual moments contribute to some truly stand-out sequences. Again, there’s not much they can do about the film’s lack of scariness. Honestly, it’s hard to truly frighten audiences in this day and age. However, their performances are authentic, and they make me believe in the unbelievable. Willem Dafoe as Albin Eberhart von Franz appears to be having the time of his life in Nosferatu. Whenever he’s onscreen, he steals the show.
Since its first conception in history, vampires have long been a subject for filmmakers to exercise their creativity. Eggers, with his keen eye for atmospheric tone and gothic filmmaking, has achieved success in creating his latest horror feature. It may not incite fear in a classical sense, but it haunts us at every minute of its runtime. Gorgeous cinematography and an exceptional score elevate this tale of obsessive torment. Sure, we’re in a time when remakes are becoming more of an annoyance than anything, but with a final product like Nosferatu, it almost seems silly to care about these things.
Nosferatu will release in theaters on December 25. The film is rated R for bloody violent content, graphic nudity and some sexual content.
Nosferatu
- Nosferatu contains exceptional performances all around.
- Robert Eggers direction leads to a beautifully haunting experience.
- Jarin Blaschke's cinematography is stunning.
- The haunting score by Robin Carolan makes up for the lack of scariness.
