Nosferatu (2024)

"Nosferatu" stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, and Willem Dafoe.  Released on December 25, 2024, the film has a couple encountering terrifying events involving a mysterious vampire.

The film was written and directed by Robert Eggers, who also directed "The Witch", "The Lighthouse", and "The Northman".  It is a remake of the 1922 German film, which was based on Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula.  When I think of Christmas, I usually think of giving, goodwill, and peace on Earth.  You know, the positive elements that reflect the spirit of the holidays.  However, this week gave us a film that's the complete opposite of this theory, as it offered nothing but despair, terror, and darkness amid its untold horrors of obsession.  Sounds like something more catering to those who don't want to spread holiday cheer this year.  "Nosferatu" is usually seen time and again as an influential masterpiece that set the template for the vampire horror subgenre since its release in 1922.  Despite its issues with copyright and various alterations, the classic silent movie gave birth to one of cinema's most terrifying and memorable vampires in history: Count Orlok.  Since then, Orlok has appeared in various media, including "SpongeBob SquarePants", reintroducing the character to new generations of horror fans who haven't watched the silent German film.  This year, the legendary vampire is seeking to strike fear in our hearts once more with a remake that captures the dread and terror of Orlok through the eyes of the master of historical terror, Robert Eggers.  Was it able to spread Christmas terror, or was it better off remaining in the shadows this holiday season?  Let's find out.

The story follows a pure and loving couple residing in Wisborg in 1830s Germany.  Thomas Hutter (Hoult) is a real estate agent striving to take care of his angelic wife, Ellen (Depp).  One day, Thomas is tasked with assisting a mysterious nobleman from Transylvania named Count Orlok (Skarsgård) in finding a new home for him in Wisborg.  However, he slowly begins to realize the strange and disturbing events surrounding Orlok.  Thomas also learns that Orlok is infatuated with Ellen to the point of obsession, leading to his discovery that this so-called "nobleman" is a bloodthirsty vampire.  As Orlok spreads his evilness upon Wisborg in search of his soon-to-be bride, Thomas must find a way to save his wife from the vampiric creature's curse. 

It's definitely unusual for a movie like this to be released at the most wonderful time of the year.  However, it's also one of the reasons I was looking forward to "Nosferatu".  While I don't mind the joyful and festive content released during that time, it's also nice to have something that's far from cheerful, mainly when referring to horror.  Another reason is, unsurprisingly, Robert Eggers, who has continued to make a name for himself in the horror genre, mainly ones involving historical folklore and mythology.  While I thought his directorial debut, "The Witch," was a decent approach to supernatural folklore horror, it wasn't until his second film, "The Lighthouse," that I started to appreciate Eggers' slow-burning yet horrifically beautiful vision that captures the lasting impact of its genuine terror and presentation.  So, seeing Eggers taking on the iconic vampire that impacted horror cinema left me hoping he'd deliver that similar success and reintroduce the character to a new generation.

I haven't watched the 1922 version of "Nosferatu".  However, I was familiar with the vampire through his appearance in the "SpongeBob SquarePants" episode, "Graveyard Shift", and the show's recent seasons.  If someone like Nosferatu is willing to appear in an iconic children's show from Nickelodeon, that's how you know how influential this vampire has become in the industry.  However, as expected, the Nosferatu in this film is nothing like the one who often confronts the yellow sponge.  This Nosferatu is the personification of death, lust, and despair amid the town's pureness, and most of all, he is terrifying as hell.  But the real question is whether the quality is worth the vampire's gothic aura.  Unsurprisingly, it was.  Much like Eggers's previous films, "Nosferatu" is a terrifyingly grim yet hypnotically engrossing movie that relies on discomfort and dread to create a roller coaster of terror for genre fans.

Regarding his filmography, Robert Eggers has an impressive passion for exposing the dread and horrific roots of mythologies and folklore and providing authenticity in the dialect and environments.  He's not just expressing these historical parts through his quality filmmaking and gothic atmosphere. He made his audience, including me, live through them, especially regarding the production designs.  "The Witch", "The Lighthouse", and "The Northman" are prime examples of his authentic and brilliantly unnerving vision.  Of course, Eggers also deserves credit for being another filmmaker who relies more on discomforting imagery and eerie tone than constant jump scares to evoke some scares.  While they may not impress everyone, they're surely better than being annoyed by sudden loud music whenever something pops out every few minutes.  As expected, "Nosferatu" is no different, with Eggers understanding the true terror of the vampiric personification of evil and providing a fantastic display of horror storytelling and technical aspects to coincide with it.  Admittedly, there are a few jump scares in "Nosferatu", but they're portrayed in a way that's more frightening than borderline silly.

"Nosferatu" is pretty straightforward for its narrative and themes, as it explores the concept of obsession and pureness vs. temptation and lust.  These elements come from Thomas's wife, Ellen, who gets more than she bargained for when she wished for companionship, bringing attention to an unimaginable evil.  What seemed like another typical vampire movie that favors bloodshed was a daring approach to the genre that emphasizes the film's thematic dread and nightmarish nature.  Of course, this also means that not everything will be hunky-dory as the film progresses.  "Nosferatu" is a suitably written and thematically compelling tale of obsession powered by the mesmerizing fear of darkness consuming the pure.  The film is also paced pretty well due to Louise Ford's editing, which also worked in representing its nightmarish appeal through its transitions and lighting effects.  It's over two hours long, but it didn't feel like it was at that length because of how the pacing moves steadily.  It's neither too rushed nor too slow; it has the right amount of momentum that allows me to embrace the characters and even the somber-like scenery.  

While the script was satisfactory in honoring the vampire responsible for his evil presence, the technical aspects and direction envisioned by Eggers were once again the true winners of this experience.  As mentioned earlier, Eggers provided an amazing balance in the horror genre that favors frights through uneasiness, suspense, and dread over consistently loud jump scares.  When the jump scares do appear on screen, they succeed in making me prefer to sleep with the lights on while wearing a garlic necklace.  Its smell may keep me up at night, but it is better than getting jumped by a vampire and having my blood sucked dry.  The movie is also the latest collaboration between Eggers and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, who have been working together since "The Witch", and it's easy to understand why.  Blaschke is usually known for providing gorgeously grim shots that are more artistically sound than showy, but he's at his best when his cinematography pays tribute to the film's time period.  "The Lighthouse" was shot in black-and-white with a 1.19:1 aspect ratio, paying homage to that film's 1890s setting and 1930s French cinema.  Blaschke filmed "Nosferatu" in color and provided elements reminiscent of the 19th-century Romanticism movement.  Both films succeed in reflecting their histories through cinematic art while also being hauntingly engrossing with their lighting and somber color palettes.  The production designs and costumes were also superb for its 1830s aesthetics, and Robin Carolan's score was just as haunting and tense as the movie's frightening sequences.

In addition to the film's technological prowess, "Nosferatu" also delivered a cast that's engaging enough to draw me under their spell.  One particular standout is Bill Skarsgård as the titular vampire blinded by obsession.  Skarsgård has a pretty decent track record in his filmography, with some projects being more well-received than others.  But, when it comes to projects involving him playing villains, the actor has an impressive range regarding his appeal and voice that made him appear as a different person, with one example being Pennywise in the "It" movies.  I'm glad to say that Skarsgård has found himself another terrifying antagonist worthy of his unique talents.  With his distinctive vocals, prosthetic makeup, and terrifying gothic-like aura, Skarsgård entirely transformed himself into the vampire that has haunted countless audiences for generations.  It's another example of an actor who truly personifies themselves as the character they portray through commitment.  

Lily-Rose Depp also made a huge impression through her incredible performance as Ellen, capturing the genuine terror and emotional range of a wife cursed to be bound by an evil vampire.  Following her recent appearance in the HBO series "The Idol", which I heard was not very good, her role in "Nosferatu" is undoubtedly the comeback Depp needed to regain her recognition as an actress.  Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor-Johnson were also superb in their performances as Thomas Hutter and Friedrich Harding, respectively.  Of course, I couldn't forget about Willem Dafoe, who has been Eggers' good luck charm since "The Lighthouse".  His performance as Albin Eberhart Von Franz, the scientific expert in the occult and mysticism, was just as captivating as in his previous films, including those from Eggers himself.  Dafoe has never lost a beat in his charismatic appeal, whether in horror or something else, and his performance in "Nosferatu" is no different.

Overall, "Nosferatu" offers enough blood and terror in its veins to properly reintroduce the iconic vampire to a new generation of horror fans.  Through his authentically gothic vision and engrossing storytelling, Robert Eggers has delivered yet another magnificent portrayal of unspeakable terror that's discomforting and hypnotically alluring.  Its two-hour-plus runtime and disturbing imagery may not make everyone want to fall under its seductive spell, especially if they're not fans of Eggers' previous movies.  However, if you can stomach your way through its discomforting aura, you'll find yourself with a genuinely horrific treat that you'll be delighted to sink your teeth into.  With its superb cast, effective direction and screenplay, fantastic cinematography, haunting score, and authentic production design, this last-minute addition to the horror genre is the true ruler of darkness that's also one of my favorites of 2024.  If you're familiar with "Nosferatu" or loved Eggers' previous works, I recommend this one.  Just make sure you bring garlic with you, just in case.

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