Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror by F. W. Murnau was highly regarded in its cinematic achievement and one of the symbol of German expressionist cinema. While Robert Eggers remake of the classic is not comparable to the monumental status the original achieved, it’s nonetheless an extraordinary horror movie that stands on its own. The project was first announced in July 2015 and was slated to be Egger’s second film that ultimately was delayed for nearly a decade. Robert Eggers himself has stated that he did not have the control and experience back then to properly deliver the remake of a masterpiece and even jokingly suggested that maybe the end result would have been better if he have waited longer.
Nosferatu marks the fourth time Eggers is joined by frequent collaborator Jarin Blaschke after The Witch, The Lighthouse and The Northman. With a trademark lighting style that has been consistent since the beginning of their collaboration, Nosferatu creates a peculiar eerie-ness that sets the helplessness and horror that is uncommon with vampire movies in recent years. Instead of relying solely on the story and Count Orlok’s (Bill Skarsgård) design to carry the horror element, the pair lean towards creating a dreadful atmosphere throughout the movie that delivers a feeling of discomfort.
Robert Eggers chose to base Count Orlok’s appearance with Vlad Dracula, whom the original Dracula was named after, returning Count Orlok to his European folklore appearance where belief of vampires resembling abominable creatures. Count Orlok is dressed like a Transylvanian nobleman from the 16th century as opposed of most common rendition of a vampire. Shrouded in mystery and hiding behind dim lighting for the most part, the reveal of Count Orlok’s full appearance is incomparable to the charismatic Dracula but a repulsive undead being fitting of delivering death and terror across Europe.
With an immaculate cinematography and atmospheric horror on top of a vampire with monstrous design, Nosferatu is only completed with an ensemble of cast all fitting of the role they performed. While Count Orlok clasped the fictional town of Wisburg tightly in his hunt of Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) to satiate his desire, an unlikely band of characters fought tooth and nail against horror incarnate himself. Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult), a man who resist the coming calamity even after experiencing firsthand of the terror joined by Professor Albin Everhart von Franz (Willem Dafoe), the only man who understand the severity of the threat and Dr. Wilhelm Sievers (Ralph Ineson), student of von Franz and a man of science who did not hesitate in accepting the reality of the situation.
The shift from a silent expressionist film to the arthouse horror that is the remake of Nosferatu we received might not sit well with diehard fans of the original but it’s undeniably a project born from love of the highest degree by Robert Eggers. Instead of letting Count Orlok to be forgotten in his coffin, Eggers invited him to haunt an audience of a new era.
