Nosferatu Review: A Vampire Film with Depth and Darkness
Robert Eggers' Nosferatu reimagines the classic vampire tale with an atmospheric and haunting lens, revitalizing FW Murnau's 1922 silent masterpiece. Featuring a stellar cast including Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, and Nicholas Hoult, Eggers blends meticulous period detail with profound thematic depth, delivering a film that stands out in the crowded genre of vampire cinema.
A Dark Return to Roots
Eggers' passion for the source material shines through. From authentic 19th-century costumes and props to breathtaking vistas in Romania and the Czech Republic, the film captures the gothic essence of the era. The story follows solicitor Thomas Hutter (Hoult) as he journeys to Transylvania, encountering the horrifying Count Orlok (Skarsgård). Eggers strips away modern vampire clichés, restoring a sense of mystery and dread to the undead bloodsucker.
Bill Skarsgård delivers an unforgettable portrayal of Count Orlok, embodying a grotesque and otherworldly menace. Far from the suave charm of modern vampires, Orlok is a decaying, maggoty figure with a booming, distant voice—a chilling representation of death itself.
Layers of Melodrama and Humanity
While the narrative closely follows Stoker’s Dracula and Murnau’s Nosferatu, Eggers introduces fresh emotional and psychological dimensions. Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen is particularly compelling as a woman torn between her love for her husband and her haunting connection to Orlok. Eggers reframes the vampire’s predation as a commentary on control and repression, contrasting gothic melodrama with unsettling realism.
The film also explores the gender dynamics of its era, with doctors diagnosing Ellen’s fits as mere "hysteria," an eerie parallel to the vampire's control over her body. Eggers leans into these themes, offering a layered critique of societal norms beneath the horror.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Eggers’ trademark style—arthouse aesthetics fused with period accuracy—grounds the film in haunting beauty. However, its meticulous adherence to familiar beats from Dracula and Nosferatu can make parts of the narrative feel predictable. While the film is more contemplative than outright terrifying, its gruesome moments ensure horror fans won’t be disappointed.
The performances elevate the material. Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal of Hutter captures the vulnerability of a man undone by ambition, while Willem Dafoe’s Von Franz adds a touch of eccentric charm to the gothic proceedings. Yet, it’s Depp and Skarsgård who steal the show, their characters embodying the film’s central conflict of desire, fear, and control.