Carl Roberts 
With a winning screenplay adaptation by Eggers and a haunting score by Robin Carolan, this version of Nosferatu will go down as possibly one of the best remakes of all time.
Back in 1922, the film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (German: Nosferatu – Eine Symphonie des Grauens) made its debut. The silent black-and-white horror has gone down in history as one of the finest forms of horror entertainment. Featuring Max Schreck as Count Orlok, a vampire who preys on the wife of his estate agent. And brings the plague to their town, the film was heavily influenced by Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. In fact, it was an unauthorised and unofficial adaptation of Stoker’s book. The author’s heirs sued over the adaptation and a court ruled that all copies of the film be destroyed. Thankfully, a few prints managed to survive and the film is now viewed as a masterpiece. Over the years, several remakes of the film have appeared, most notably the 1979 version starring Klaus Kinski and directed by Werner Herzog.
THE REMAKE
Director Robert Eggers has turned his hand to remaking the classic movie. His version stars Bill Skarsgård as Orlok with brilliant support from Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe. The trailers have had us shivering in our seats in fear. But can Eggers bring the count back to life with his version or should he and the premise have remained undead?
PREMISE
Set in 1838 in Germany, Nosferatu follows the obsession between a haunted young woman, Ellen Hutter, and the ancient Transylvanian vampire stalking her, Count Orlok, leading to untold horror.
THOUGHTS
Horror fans rejoice. The film is almost the perfect version of the classic property. From its chilling opening to its tragic ending, the film is almost flawless. There are a few minor bumps along the way but these hardly matter. Robert Eggers has delivered a remake that not only chills but has us transfixed throughout. Not unlike a Vampire’s stare. The gothic elements of the film are a wonder to behold. The film is shot like an old horror movie and it feels exactly as it should. The underlying dread that permeates the film has us hooked.
In a brilliant move, the opening to the film is presented to us in a washed-out tone. Making us believe what we are seeing is an old black-and-white horror movie. This happens throughout the film at times, giving it a gothic, eerie feel that suits the material down to the ground. Not only does it fit in with the 1922 original, it is the perfect way to present the film to us. The colour palette that Eggers uses throughout is perfect. As is his direction of the material. Make no mistake, this could be Eggers’ masterpiece, a piece of cinema that will become a classic not only now but in years to come.
BILL SKARSGARD
The cast are all excellent in their roles. Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok toplines the film but in fact, only really appears for half of the film’s running time. However, when he is on screen, he is pure evil. A creature that scares us not only in the cinema but will follow us all the way home afterwards. His overall look is very different to what we’ve seen before. His Orlok has hair and a rather bushy moustache. As a fan of the original film, I did find this to be a variation that I wasn’t 100% happy with.
But that is just me. Regardless, Skarsgård’s performance here will see his incarnation become one of horror and cinema’s greatest villains. A vampire that truly terrifies us, with no real redeeming qualities at all. There is a backstory to Orlok that allows us to feel a glint of sympathy with him. But it is fleeting, a whisper on the wind. Skarsgård is excellent throughout.
Credit: Aidan Monaghan / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
NICHOLAS HOULT AND LILY-ROSE DEPP
The main focus of the film are the characters of Thomas Hutter and his wife, Ellen played superbly by Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp respectively. The pair excel in their roles, Hoult giving his all in an emotional powerhouse of performance while Lily-Rose Depp completely convinces as the object of Orlok and the reason for the evilness he will visit upon the Town and the people who live within. Orlok is obsessed with Ellen, a fact which is revealed to us early and continues to haunt proceedings throughout. With Thomas despatched to treat with Orlok, a set-up from the start, it leaves Ellen exposed to the Count’s evil from afar. With Thomas incapacitated for a while and away from his wife, it allows Ellen to suffer with every step nearer to her the count makes. Both actors are superb here.
A DOWNWARD SPIRAL
From the moment Ellen begins her spiral downward, we see her pain at every level. Others view her as paranoid or delusional, and mentally disturbed. We know the truth. Things only get worse when Thomas returns. For a brief moment, all seems right again. It is a feint. Even Ralph Ineson as Dr. Wilhelm Sievers (excellent here) is at a total loss to explain it, even though he tries to see a logical reason for Ellen’s illness. With Ineson becoming the third member of the ensemble to try and find a true reason behind everything, the film ascends higher than before. Just when we think the performances can’t get any better, they do.
AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON AND EMMA CORRIN
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin appear during a large part of the film as Friedrich Harding and his wife Anna. Friedrich is a vampire sceptic, closed-minded to all the evidence he is presented with to prove what he is being told is true. At times, we find ourselves hating him for the way he finally acts towards Ellen. His coldness, mean-spiritedness and general demeanour replace the kind and friendly man we first meet early in the film.
Anna is Ellen’s best friend and confidant, a role the actress is perfect in. We see the heartache she feels at what her friend is going through and her inability to help or understand it. With her two children in tow and caught in the middle of Friedrich and Ellen and their disputes, Anna doesn’t know which way to turn. Does she support her husband or her best friend? Both actors are wonderful in their roles.
Special mention also has to go to Simon McBurney as Herr Knock, Thomas’ employer. The actor, playwright, and theatre and opera director gets the thankless task of playing the character who is the equivalent of Dracula’s Renfield (not a spoiler, you can see it a mile off.) McBurney is a fine actor in his own right and he proves and shows his quality and prowess as the character. He even gets his own disgusting moments, ones that will revile the audience while also scaring the pants off them.
WILLEM DAFOE
What else is there to say about Willem Dafoe that hasn’t been said already? Not much to be fair. Dafoe is, as he always is, a standout performer. His performance as Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz (The Van Helsing of this tale) elevates an already incredible film and makes it take to the skies. Dafoe is incredible. His performance here is both genius, madcap, eccentric and totally believable. He is a highlight in a film full of highlights from the start. A controversial scientist, and expert in the occult and mysticism, he is the only character who truly understands the strange psychic connection between Count Orlok and Ellen. In his hands, Dafoe gives Von Franz life as we wouldn’t expect. And the film is richer for it.
VERDICT
With a winning screenplay adaptation by Eggers and a haunting and fitting score by Robin Carolan, this version of Nosferatu will go down as possibly one of the best remakes of all time. Not only does it pay homage to the original 1922 film, but it also drags the material into the 21st century in such a respectful, dignified way that we can’t help but be amazed. The love and attention Eggers has given the gothic supernatural movie and the source material are all on show here. The effects that the film contains are brilliantly crafted and rendered, making us believe fully in what we are watching.
A CLASSY HORROR MOVIE
The film does contain more than a few jump scares along the way, alongside some horrific gore. One sequence will conjure the film Last Voyage Of The Demeter to mind (if you’ve seen it, you will know) and will give the audience the perfect feeling of unease and sheer fright that will live with you long after the end credits have ended. If you hate rats, then you’ll be lifting your feet from the floor of the screen at times, adding an even bigger feeling of fright.
While not as graphic or as gory as some of the more recent horror movies that have hit multiplexes, Nosferatu is more memorable than almost all of them. Thankfully, for once, for all of the right reasons. This is a classy horror movie, one that is a throwback to the golden age of horror. You will rightfully feel drained by the climax. Robert Eggers, I salute you. A must-see.
Nosferatu will be in cinemas in the United States on Christmas Day. And in the UK on New Year’s Day From Focus Features and Universal Pictures.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
