A recommendation: Nosferatu with Count Orlok
“My dreams grow darker.” Opening in theaters nationwide on Christmas Day in 2024 is the dark and chilling new vision of Nosferatu, the story of the ancient vampyr and his journey into Germany. This latest version of Nosferatu is written and directed by filmmaker mastermind Robert Eggers, director of a few other excellent films including The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman. Eggers went back to the source - the original Nosferatu (1922) German film with a screenplay written by Henrik Galeen, indeed inspired by Bram Stoker’s original Dracula book (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). This new film follows the same story, with a real estate man traveling to Transylvania, Romania to meet a mysterious wealthy Count Orlok who is preparing to move to a new castle in Germany instead. It’s a mysterious, atmospheric, unsettling retelling of this classic story - and don’t worry, Count Orlok is as creepy and freaky as everyone is expecting. It’s an enchanting story of a blood-thirsty vampire and the people around him - his servants, his many meals, and his infatuation - a young woman named Ellen Hutter. The whole cast is magnificent, the dark and gloomy cinematography is ravishing, and the score by composer Robin Carolan is exquisite. Another must see film by Robert Eggers - and if you really want to be freaked you need to watch it in theaters so the sound design and score envelopes you completely. Lily-Rose Depp is outstanding as Ellen, and Nicholas Hoult is great as well, but it’s all about the transformation by actor Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok.
(S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)Set in the 1800s, Nosferatu follows real estate salesman Thomas Hutter, who is tasked with finding a new residence for wealthy Transylvanian Count Orlok. While trying to fulfill the ask, Hutter learns that Orlok, a vampire, is infatuated with his wife, Ellen Hutter, and everyone's dynamics become complicated. The film held its world premiere in Berlin earlier in December, though it was filmed almost entirely in Czechia. And at the Corvin Castle in Romania, of course, to make it all the more authentic. Featuring cinematography by Jarin Blaschke, who has worked with Eggers on all of his films, the look & feel of this gothic tale is what makes it so mystifying and entrancing. Best of all, Count Orlok’s voice and mystique is unsettling in just the right way. This isn’t a full-on, all-out horror film - there are a few jump scares, but like with most of Eggers films, it relies on the brooding air of mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. Not to mention the use of shadows and darkness as a way of letting the audience sense the darkness exuding from Nosferatu himself. Of course it’s not the first time someone has made a film about Dracula or an evil, hungry vampire - but there is something especially distinct about Eggers as a filmmaker and how he crafts his films with such immense precision. It’s always a treat for cinema geeks like myself. This film lives up to the early buzz, and is absolutely worth the price of a ticket to watch in theaters on the big screen. I’m already ready to return again and spend more time with Ellen and the Count.
For more info on the film + to get tickets to watch, visit the official website (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).
