Vampires are a staple of cinema, appearing in romance, action and, of course, horror films. But as more vampire movies came out, the bloodsuckers have gone from terrifying creatures of the night to sparkly, emo teens.
On Christmas of last year, the terror was brought back to the big screen with Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” a remake of 1922’s “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror,” the first vampire movie that started the bloodsucking craze in Hollywood.
With spectacular acting, cinematography and directing, the movie proved to be one of the most terrifying horror films of the decade and surpassed the original in every way.
Set in 1830s Germany and Romania, “Nosferatu” follows Ellen Hutter and her husband, Thomas, as Ellen is pursued by the ancient vampire Count Orlok, who has a twisted attraction to her.
Unlike the original, the remake places much more focus on Ellen and gives her much more character beyond being a damsel in distress. Ellen has agency in the story and is largely responsible for both inciting and ending its events.
Much of the depth given to Ellen is the result of an amazing performance by Lily Rose-Depp, who showcases both range and talent as she portrays the terror Ellen feels at the hands of Orlok and the determination to protect those she loves.
Opposite to Ellen, Thomas is made to be much less stoic and more human, being more emotional and scared than in the original film, which makes him more relatable. As Thomas, Nicholas Hoult makes the terror he feels in the face of Orlok’s evil palpable and the love he feels for Ellen real and true.
With the improvements made to their characters, the relationship between Thomas and Ellen is all the more important. Thankfully, the on-screen chemistry between Hoult and Rose-Depp is perfect, their portrayals of the couple realistic and moving.
The most striking performance in “Nosferatu” is that of Count Orlok, the Nosferatu himself, played by Bill Skarsgård, best known for his role as Pennywise in “IT.” Skarsgård once again shows himself to be a talented horror actor when he puts on Orlok’s fangs.
According to Skarsgård, playing Orlok took immense preparation, including six hours of makeup and prosthetic application and training to lower his voice an entire octave. The effort he put into the role shows, however, and Orlok is one of the most menacing vampires seen in film.
Other standout actors include Willem Dafoe as the slightly unstable vampire hunter Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz, as well as Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin as Friedrich and Anna Harding, friends of the Hutters who serve as the voice of uncertainty about the supernatural.
Every performance was carefully guided by director and screenwriter Robert Eggers, best known for his past films, “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse.” Eggers once again shows his talent for period pieces in “Nosferatu,” where the sets, costumes and dialogue all seem to be ripped from the 1800s.
The best part of Eggers’ directorial style is how well it lends itself to horror. The most important part of any horror movie is the buildup of tension, and Eggers understood that.
Throughout the film, the characters are never truly safe with the threat of Orlok present, which keeps the tension high and the audience on edge.
The atmosphere of “Nosferatu” is also critical to its success as a horror film. After Orlok is introduced, the movie has an icy blue hue, which makes things appear cold and unnatural.
Going along with the visuals, “Nosferatu” has an amazing orchestral score that adds to the general eeriness of the movie. Unlike most modern horror movies, the score does not build up or cease before a scary moment, which allows for more unpredictability and suspense.
All of these filmmaking aspects, along with the cast’s spectacular performances, come together to create a truly terrifying and terrific experience in “Nosferatu.”