Table of Contents
Just as he has done with all his previous work, Robert Eggers has transcended the modern cinematic expectations with ‘Nosferatu’ (2024), a remake of the 1922 silent classic. With the ample support of the strongest possible cast of actors, impeccable cinematography, and a darkened, realistic vision, the film retells the original story of Dracula with the dark psychological passion that Eggers is becoming a mdoern master of.
Things to do:
- Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here.
- Limited Time Offer – FREE Subscription to The Hollywood Insider
- Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy.
A chilling journey into Eggers’ unnerving vampire vision
Remakes are often given a negative reputation due to their usual displays of unimaginative efforts to receive easy money on a recognizable property. The story of ‘Nosferatu’, originally conceived by screenwriter Henrik Galeen, manages to avoid this pitfall due to the source material being very open to a multitude of different interpretations throughout the times. Werner Herzog did an excellent retelling of the original, not to mention that the story itself is of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel which has seen no shortage of adaptations. Due to Robert Eggers’ reverence for the original and his history of dark, psychologically intense films, the material is better suited for none more than him in this day.
WATCH THE TRAILER of the Film and the Revolution: ‘Can I Go Home Now?’
The Children Around the World Continue to Ask the question
Indeed, Eggers brings a superb vision to the retelling, infusing the gothic setting with modern horror aspects while not conforming to the trends seen all too often in contemporary horror movies. The sparsely lit environments with Eggers’ incredible troupe of actors are what make this version truly worth seeing. Without a doubt, ‘Nosferatu’ lands itself among the best looking movies of 2024. The lighting and cinematography are unlike any other modern horror film in how creepily etherial they look. The superb makeup done on Bill Skarsgard to transform him into the ungodly monster that is Count Orlok is monsterous and unnerving, made all the better by his limited presence in the marketing of the film. There is simply an attention to the visual spectacle of the film that is overwhelmingly cinematic and creepy. The shadow of Orlok’s bony hand moving over the faces by itself is a chilling reminder of the unstoppable force of the monster’s presence.
Related article: – Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY
Related article: ‘The Lighthouse’: Robert Pattinson and Willem Defoe’s Film Is An Original Made With Excellence Leading to an Oscar Nomination for Cinematography
Performances stupendous in their horrifying realism
Also elevating the film is the cast, all of whom bring their talent in fresh and sometimes unexpected ways. Lily-Rose Depp defies all expectations with her performance as Ellen Hutter, the woman who is devilishly seduced by Count Orlok and inadvertently allows him to start his terrible reign. Audiences do not expect much from someone born in a family already made up of acting talent, whose career has been made up of songs and insignificant movie roles. Yet Depp is incredible with every scene she is in, particularly when her character is possessed by the nefarious attraction of Orlok. It is not far-fetched to say that she delivers one of the best performances of last year that deserves proper recognition.
The rest of the cast is great in their own roles with Nicholas Hoult and Aaron Taylor-Johnson fitting well into their respective roles of the Dracula story. Robert Eggers’ regulars Willem Dafoe and Ralph Ineson bring their expected talent to the table, both of whom fit seemlessly into the gothic setting of 1838 Germany. But of course, the true star of the picture is Bill Skarsgard as Count Orlok himself. Covered in decaying vampire makeup with a disturbing skinny stature and long fingernails all add to the terrifying demeanor of this reinterpretation of the timeless character. His harsh, deep Germanic voice works flawlessly in delivering the chilling aura of the character. The best detail that adds to his unsettling presence is the sound of him greedily sucking the blood out of a victim’s neck, akin to the sound of an athlete chugging down a sports drink. All effort to make the look and feel of the movie done by the cast and crew has without question paid off in the best way it can.
Related article: EVOLUTION: Every Ryan Gosling Role From 1995 to 2020, All Performances Exceptionally Poignant
Related article: EVOLUTION: Every Henry Cavill Role From 2001 to 2021, All Performances Exceptionally Poignant
Related article: The 100-Year Anniversary of ‘Nosferatu’: The First Modern Horror Movie
For all this praise, is it worth retelling?
With all of these technical and performance triumphs proclaimed, an important question has to be made on if remaking ‘Nosferatu’ in the present day should be done. Afterall, it is not only the second remake of the 1922 original, a brilliant German Expressionist film done by F.W. Murnau, but the original was an unauthorized adaptation of the Dracula novel, making it far from an original story. There are ways in which new Dracula films can innovate with the preconceived notions of the story. Herzog’s ‘Nosferatu, the Vampyre’ (1979) altered the ending to have a more bleak conclusion while ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ (1992) brought exuberant costumes and an almost psychedelic vision.
For the case of Eggers’ film, most of the appeal is in witnessing the spectacle on display. The unsettling beast that is Skarsgard’s portrayal of the Nosferatu himself. The chilling atmosphere of cold mountains, rat infested towns, and a storm ridden ship housing a devilish creature. It is merely worth watching just for that as well as in hope of bringing this version of Dracula to the attention of a newer generation. That being said, it rarely, if at all, takes a new approach to the story or character’s motivations. Certain sections of the movie are given more development, yet not much more than Murnau’s or even Herzog’s version. At the very least, ‘Nosferatu’ relies on its expressive visuals and performances to communicate the ideas more so than any other version.
There will always be a fascination to the Dracula story and particularly the prestige that the films under the name ‘Nosferatu’ will carry compared to the normal dracula output. There is a certain focus on the plague aspect, visualized best by the rats in both Eggers and Herzog’s films, analyzing our own world with its long history of diseases that often come out of left field for us and cause chaos in our normally safe societies. The focus on the woman in each film also is significant as there is an underlying idea with each that she finds some kind of odd, perverted attraction to the count. A way out of mundane expectations of Victorian society and into something different. There is also a visual appeal with ‘Nosferatu’ which lends it better to film. The overtly creepy appearance of Count Orlok, whether it is by Max Schreck, Klaus Kinski, or Bill Skarsgard, will not fail to achieve an eerie effect. Therefore, Eggers is fully justified as the man for the task to remake ‘Nosferatu’ in the modern day, especially considering his talent in showcasing the psychological elements of the horror genre.
Related article: Understanding the Star Wars Timeline
Related article: A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola: One of Cinema’s Unforgettable Directors | ‘Megalopolis’, ‘The Godfather’ & More
Related article: #metoo Revolution: Powerful Questions That Need Answers
Related article: FACT-CHECKED Series: Timothee Chalamet and 32 Facts about The Young Superstar
Related article: Werner Herzog: Treasures From a Lifelong Cinematic Quest
Even if not much of the story will come out of left field, ‘Nosferatu’ is more than worth a watch, especially in the theater. Everyone involved put all their talent into getting it made as the chilling, must see horror movie of 2024. Anyone looking for some great scares will be thrilled to find one that does not rely on jump scares or cheap frightenings, but real creepy aspects from the craft of the film. For fans of Eggers, it is guaranteed to impress as it follows suite in his line of dark reimaginings of more classic stories and settings. If it is any indication of the continuing future of his work, then cinema fans are sure to be excited.
CREDITS:
Cast: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgard, Willem Dafoe
Director of Photography: Jarin Blaschke
Edited by: Louise Ford
Produced by: Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Robert Eggers
Written by: Robert Eggers (adapted from ‘Nosferatu’ by Henrik Galeen)
Directed by: Robert Eggers
By Elijah van der Fluit
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
More Interesting Stories From The Hollywood Insider
– Want GUARANTEED SUCCESS? Remove these ten words from your vocabulary| Transform your life INSTANTLY
– A Tribute to Martin Scorsese: A Complete Analysis of the Life and Career of the Man Who Lives and Breathes Cinema
– Do you know the hidden messages in ‘Call Me By Your Name’? Find out behind the scenes facts in the full commentary and In-depth analysis of the cinematic masterpiece
– A Tribute To The Academy Awards: All Best Actor/Actress Speeches From The Beginning Of Oscars 1929-2019 | From Rami Malek, Leonardo DiCaprio To Denzel Washington, Halle Berry & Beyond | From Olivia Colman, Meryl Streep To Bette Davis & Beyond
– In the 32nd Year Of His Career, Keanu Reeves’ Face Continues To Reign After Launching Movies Earning Over $4.3 Billion In Total – “John Wick”, “Toy Story 4”, “Matrix”, And Many More
Author
You might also like…
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
