Writer/Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Lily Rose-Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgard
‘A Marvellous Period Piece’
When it comes to the greatest movies ever made about vampires, it’s worth discussing “Nosferatu”. Ever since its release in 1922, F.W. Murnau’s movie has become a horror classic. From a personal point-of-view, I find the classic film about dangerous vampires simple to relate to. I recall with nostalgia memories of a girl appreciating Dracula. As attractive as a vampire, she was a girl that every boy in my entire school would admire. Fond of “Twilight”, she loved vampires whose skins shined bright at night. A feminist without a doubt, she wasn’t afraid to speak out on sensitive issues which she was passionate about. In a country where women had obstacles to face, she sought a quiet place. It didn’t take long before I bonded with a girl that appreciated vampires which were wicked. I fell in love at first sight with a girl admiring vampires with a bite. We would love discussing vampires with strong sexual desires. However, sexuality brought bonds to a closure. Pursuing education, she embarked on trips to London. Discovering she was a lesbian, she embraced sexual orientation. I contacted her on Twitter, but she blocked me forever. It broke my heart to part ways with a girl giving me a love for art. Like the bite of Nosferatu, it was devastating to be rejected by a girl I value. Years later, the vampire is a reminder of a girl that changed my life forever.
As someone treasuring a girl that grew up to value Nosferatu, I adored “Nosferatu”. Released in 2024, Robert Eggers’ latest movie honoured a classic about vampires. Packed with breathtaking set-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of 2024. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Lily-Rose Depp, who embodied an inspirational heroine. Although “Nosferatu” is a groundbreaking horror movie, it isn’t a flawless film. Its unevenly paced, and suffers from an asylum subplot. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entertainment that fans of vampires won’t be able to resist.
Set in 19th Century Germany, “Nosferatu” tells the story of a vampire causing tragedy. Lily-Rose Depp portrays Ellen Hunter, a woman with feminist ideals. Ellen faces a broken marriage with husband Thomas Hunter (Nicholas Hoult), a conservative businessman. However, Ellen’s life changes when she falls in love with vampires causing disaster. Known as Count Orlak (Bill Skarsgard), the vampire causes Ellen to face nightmares that are dire. Experiencing a dilemma, Ellen questions whether she can discover love in a restrictive era.
Robert Eggers is fascinated with horror movies. His directorial debut “The Witch” captured frightening witches in woods leaving families terrorized. With “Nosferatu”, however, Eggers crafted his first horror remake. It was the filmmaker’s attempt honouring classic horror movies about vampires but he succeeded tremendously. Evoking Catharine Hardwicke’s “Twilight”, Eggers successfully uses low-key lighting capturing bonds between a woman and vampire that’s frightening. For instance, low-key lighting elevates the opening scene. During this haunting scene, Helen experiences terrifying visions becoming possessed by the spirit of Count Orlak. It rekindled memories of my relationship with a girl that appreciated vampires which were wicked. Low-key lighting is a complicated technique to use in movies. As David Fincher’s “Se7en” demonstrated, low-key lighting elevates commemorated mysteries. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Eggers creates vampires which are frightening.
Another admirable aspect of “Nosferatu” is production-design. Eggers uses commemorated sound-design to create frightening vampires that shine. Evoking David Yates’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”, Eggers uses diegetic sounds capturing vampires whose lives decline. Whether its sounds of breathing or scary screams, Eggers uses diegetic sounds to capture a frightening vampire. For instance, diegetic sounds elevate the signature scene. During this unforgettable scene, Count Orlak forces Thomas to sign signatures on controversial documents signing agreements through his frightening voice. Like Voldemort’s frightening voice issuing instructions to Death Eaters, Count Orlak commands people through his voice. Diegetic sounds are complicated techniques to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” demonstrated, diegetic sounds elevate commemorated WWII movies. Nevertheless, it excels in this movie. Through stunning production-design, Eggers captures commemorated vampire that shine.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Nosferatu” is a captivating horror classic that’s compelling. Eggers’ screenwriting strength is using silence to capture the doomed romance between a woman and vampire committing violence. Evoking John Krasinksi’s “A Quiet Place”, Eggers effectively uses scenes of silence to capture the hardships vampires face. For instance, silence elevates the final sacrifice scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ellen refuses to talk with Count Orlak after he commits violence causing catastrophe. It reminded me of my broken relationships with a commemorated girl with whom I ended relationships leaving me emotionally devastated. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Ridley Scott’s “Alien” suggested, silence elevates commemorated science-fiction movies about alien species. Nevertheless, it succeeds tremendously in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Eggers honours frightening vampires today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Lily-Rose Depp gives one of her best performances as Ellen. Depp first achieved praise for playing heroines in gothic horror movies. With “Nosferatu”, however, the actress took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a woman falling in love with a vampire causing tragedy, but she succeeded. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. With riveting expressions, she captures the angst, desperation and resentments of a woman that becomes obsessed with a vampire. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actresses working today.
Bill Skarsgard is spectacular as a vampire that puts the lives of women in grave danger which is dire. Skarsgard first achieved appreciations for playing iconic clownish villains in renowned horror movies. With “Nosferatu”, however, the actor took on his most frightening role. Whether he’s issuing orders to his guardsmen or haunting the memory of a young woman, Skarsgard uses his powerful voice to create a villainous vampire that’s compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actors working today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of appreciation. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is amazing, capturing the determination of a detective embarking on a dangerous mission to apprehend vampires causing destruction. Willem Dafoe is phenomenal, capturing the sorrow of a medical doctor that struggles to heal bodies of women impacted by vampires. Lastly, Emma Corrin is excellent. As a woman possessed by vampires, she brings authority to the movie.
Although “Nosferatu” is a captivating horror classic, it isn’t a flawless movie. If there’s a shortcoming to the movie, it lacks an engaging pace. Eggers’ deductions to integrate subplots about mental institutions in the movie is bold but doesn’t succeed. Due to this faulty technique, scenes which capture a mental institution aren’t as engaging as Ellen’s desire to find her identity. As Milos Forman’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” demonstrated, subplots about mental institutions enhance classic movies about mental health. Therefore, “Nosferatu” falls short of the standards set by the best vampire movies that audiences adore.
Nevertheless, fans of the vampire classic will definitely appreciate “Nosferatu” and so will movie-goers seeking haunting entertainment. A mesmerizing period piece, it celebrates an iconic film about vampires that are frightening.
Nearly 90 years following the release of a classic film about a vampire falling in love with a woman dressed in gorgeous attire, it’s a riveting reminder of a groundbreaking movie that forever changed the world through its portrayal of monstrous creatures with abilities to inspire wonder that created a lasting legacy which is hard to not admire.
As powerful as Count Orlok’s bite, it has motivated me to move on years after ending tragic relationships with a bright girl that gave me greater insight about barriers vampires fight inspiring my lifelong love for reviews that I write on my website.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 