Nosferatu
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (out of 5 stars)
Devoted horror fans hold a special place in their hearts, for the 1922 silent film directed by F. W. Murnau introduced the world to Count Orlok. A classic that set the stage for vampire screenplays that continue to weave their dark narratives into cinema. Director Robert Eggers has wanted to reintroduce this seminal figure to a new generation with his melancholic and gothic take on Nosferatu.
Set in Germany in the early 1800s, Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) is a newly appointed real estate agent tasked with visiting a new client in Transylvania named Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). He must leave behind his new wife, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), who suffers from incapacitating fears of a figure that has haunted her since her youth. Despite Thomas’ calming effect on her soul, familiar terrors begin to take over her mind as she must be separated from her husband. Yet, the young agent must go on this journey and get the deed signed for his boss, Herr Knock (Simon McBurney), who seems to have nefarious motivations for getting this client signed. As things become apparent to Thomas about the powers and plans Count Orlok has for his community and wife, he does all he can to escape the control of this bone-chilling creature to warn his friends and family about the approaching evil.
For the director of The Lighthouse and The Northman to get his hands on this black-and-white vampire classic is a winning combination. His cinematic eye for light and shade makes this sensory element another character in this visual spectacle. Yet, the instrumental use of sound makes each moment even more blood curdling as much of the most horrific elements occur in the dark castle recesses. These filming techniques make this a story worth studying and marvelling at, regardless of having an affinity to horror.
Eggers’ screenplay honours the original era as it represents a time when the thespian craft was relegated to overacting and showing the value of the terrified stare down the camera lens. Hoult, Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin and Willem Dafoe all embody their roles with convincing form. This stellar cast takes on this ancient journey and personifies the era that the filmmaker has conceived. Bill Skarsgård continues to prove that his best and most foreboding roles continue to remain where he is unrecognisable. His enhanced voice and sheer presence help take this production beyond being a vampire film du jour.
Still, where Nosferatu struggles is in comparison not to the original as much as every other film of a bloodsucking underworld. The pacing and dialogue must be updated purposefully, which may cause modern audiences to lose interest quickly. Also, the contemporary spin includes grotesque visuals and nudity that complement and distract from the overall experience. Proving to be a fascinating cinematic experiment that may or may not capture the hearts of today’s viewers.
REEL DIALOGUE: What do I do with my fears?
When engaging with films like Nosferatu, Robert Eggers capitalises on our deepest fears, specifically of death and how this inevitably can happen at any time and seemingly in random ways.
To allow fear to rule life is to put faith in the ‘what could be’ of life, which can lead to mental, emotional, or physical paralysis for many. Fear means to focus on what may or may not happen, and this fear even existed in the people of the Bible. Moses, Gideon, Esther, and others had to work through their fears.
The answer is to not focus on the ‘what could be’ of life but to look to the God of the universe for solace and strength. Jesus is the one who defeated death and offered freedom from fear through his life and words. The Apostle Paul writes of this when addressing the concern of a young disciple named Timothy. Read through these words and know that they answer where we should all put our fears. The answer to fear
