Nosferatu

Since posting about Bram Stoker's Dracula, I have seen it several times since then and lapped up all the special features as it has become a favourite of mine. Francis Ford Coppola took quite a gamble with that film in the early 1990s, particularly with his efforts to make it using practical effects akin to the early days of cinema, and the result is a highly engrossing thriller which made Dracula a fascinatingly tragic character. Then when word came of Robert Eggers remaking the 1922 silent film, Nosferatu, I was excited to see how he'd lend his creative style to this familiar character that we all know so well through countless adaptations. 

The 2024 adaptation of Nosferatu is very much the same story as before but with all the names of characters and places changed as the 1920s version was an unauthorised adaptation. Here we have newly weds Ellen and Thomas Hutter in 1830s Germany planning the start of their lives together but Thomas' work has him sent far away to help a mysterious Count purchase a property in their home city. However, Ellen is haunted by something terrible and fears the worst if he should go but Thomas leaves under the promise he will financially rewarded by his employer once the purchase is complete.

Much like Eggers' previous work, Nosferatu is a visually bleak and almost colourless film that makes full use of its modest budget to create a highly immersive adaptation. Fans of the silent film will appreciate some nods to German expressionism as Eggers and his crew set the scene perfectly for when we meet Bill Skarsgård's creepy Count Orlok who is suitable monstrous. The more human cast are all on great form with Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Ineson and a perfectly utilised Willem Dafoe as the not-Abraham Van Helsing who believes he holds the solution to it all.

But as a fan of Coppola's adaptation, I did find this lacking in some places; Nosferatu is very much a beast in a single form and that is all. Whereas in Coppola's version, we come to learn and understand the man who has been cursed for all eternity which made the overall story that much more engaging. This is still fun and thrilling to watch but it leans too heavily on jump-scares when I'd hope Eggers would be more, dare I say it, creative.

Yet this is still a highly inventive film, dripping in atmosphere, and Depp shines in the leading role as the haunted Ellen who fears the worst is coming for her and everyone she holds dear. Another actress with striking facial features, Anya Taylor-Joy, was set to be cast here but had to drop out and I feel Eggers needed to look no further than Depp as her appearance alone works perfectly here.

Nosferatu is a good old fashioned gothic horror that achieves everything it sets out to do and a visual masterclass while backed by a terrific cast. Eggers' direction keeps the pacing nicely on cue and remains to be one of the most interesting directors working today but I just feel it's Coppola's version that I will be returning back to in future. This is still an easy recommendation for anyone interested in some solid gothic horror.