We’ve been waiting for this movie for a very long time. The advertising campaign did a really good job. The trailers teased more than they showed. By not showing the Count Orlok, they made all horror fans want to discover the character. One thing is for sure, it’s rare that a horror film creates so much excitement for the holiday season. Robert Eggers gives us this Christmas present, because yes, as strange as it may seem, it is a Christmas film. Will this new iteration of Nosferatu please silent film fans while reaching a new audience?
Newly married, real estate agent Thomas Hutter must leave his town to sign a contract with the mysterious Count Orlok who wants to buy a home in Wisborg where he’s living with his wife Ellen.
This passion project was an ambitious gamble for Robert Eggers. The successful director of The VVitch, The Lighthouse and The Northman certainly has a style that lends itself very well to the gothic universe of Nosferatu. After all, this is not the first attempt to revive Murnau’s vampire. Besides Werner Herzog’s film, several other remakes have emerged over time, mostly independent productions.
Eggers’ screenplay, based on Henrik Galeen’s, remains basically much the same. If talking pictures allow for deeper character development, Eggers gives himself the freedom to do it a lot, which is a good thing. The characters are not just on the surface and we understand clearly their intentions. Several unexplained or implied elements are now explained and more obvious. On the other hand, all these developments do not always contribute to the story and slow down the rhythm of the film, which could have been shorter. Ellen is the center of the story rather than a supporting character. Of course, she is the key to destroy the horrible vampire, but the emphasis is really on the bond between the beauty and the beast. The Count’s influence is so strong that it was already taking effect during Ellen’s childhood. Why? We don’t know and it’s an odd choice.
The cast is all doing a great job. Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, Renfield) is very credible and Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, The Northman) is brilliant as we know him. We remember him as Max Shreck in Shadow of the Vampire. Here he plays Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz, the equivalent of Van Helsing, a doctor with unorthodox methods studying the occult. Lily-Rose Depp (Silent Night) is doing well and offers us great performances, but, the scenes of control by Orlok flirt with demonic possession making us wondering if we are not listening to The Exorcist.
But of course, the viewer is there for the vampire, which is the star of the film. Eggers decided not to copy the appearance of the iconic Orlok played by Max Shreck. Instead, he took inspiration from the mythology of Dracula and vampires. The scene with the gypsies is particularly striking about the beliefs of ancient time about vampires, which might seem like a breath of fresh air, but with its putrid appearance of Orlok, we rather want to pinch our noses since the smell must be terrible. Bill Skarsgård (It, Barbarian) is unrecognizable and delivers a solid performance. His powerful voice and monstrous appearance give the impression that he is an ancient hellish creature. Every scene in his presence creates a nightmarish atmosphere. Even though we know how the film ends, the creature gives the feeling that no hope is possible.
The beauty of this film lies in its visual and sound atmosphere. The attention to detail is remarkable and we really believe we have traveled in time. The music composed by Robin Carolan perfectly accompanies the film. And the cinematography by Jarin Blaschke is sublime, he who has worked with Robert Eggers since his beginnings. The scenes in Wisborg are gloomy, especially when the plague raging. With the snow falling and Christmas day approaching, no one is in the mood to celebrate. It’s a strange move to release Nosferatu on December 25th even with the movie taking place during the holidays. With A Symphony of Horror being associated with Halloween season, especially with film concerts, maybe Eggers wish to create a new tradition with his remake.
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu certainly has several qualities, but the fact remains that several scenes could have been cut as they were distracting and even uncomfortable. This film is not a masterpiece, nor even Eggers’ best film, but it remains a beautiful reinvention of the immeasurable masterpiece, and probably the best one. The public will appreciate this new homage that adds to the mythology of Nosferatu. Give yourself a gift and give it a try at theater. On that note, have a happy holiday season!
3.5/5
