Directed by Robert Eggers, Nosferatu is set in 1838 in Germany and follows the obsession between a haunted young woman, Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), and the ancient Transylvanian vampire stalking her, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), leading to untold horror that ends up spreading like a terrible plague.
The 1922 silent film Nosferatu was originally an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula but became regarded as an influential masterpiece of cinema and the horror genre. It has had several remakes over the years but this 2024 remake got everyone’s attention, not only because of the cast involved but also because of Robert Eggers being at the helm. Robert Eggers has proven himself to be one of the most outstanding filmmakers in recent years having made two phenomenal historical horror films, The Witch and The Lighthouse, and one historical fiction epic, The Northman. If anyone was perfectly qualified to make a modern reimagining of Nosferatu it was certainly Robert Eggers, which made this film one of my most anticipated horror films of this year.
I had full faith that Eggers was going to deliver another masterful horror and that is exactly what he did. He’s created a haunting yet beautiful gothic horror as well as what could be considered the best modern vampire film we have had in many years.
Vampire films have slowly been making a steady return to glory from the dark ages of Twilight but this reimagining of Nosferatu sets a whole new standard for the genre as it is truly a masterful work of art created by one of the most passionate directors of our current generation. This film was everything I wanted from a vampire film directed by Robber Eggers, featuring his signature style, phenomenal performances, disturbing horror, fantastic historical dialogue, gorgeous visuals, incredible effects, and so much more.
Eggers always knows how to choose the best cast for every one of his films bringing out the best in all of them and this film is no exception. There are some career-defining performances we are given by this cast, with the biggest among them being Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter. I’ve always firmly believed that Lily-Rose Depp was capable of having great talent as an actress but she had never got the chance to unleash it in most of the projects she’s been in until this one. She masterfully delivers a haunting performance as Ellen that had me hooked from the first frame to the last frame as well as showcases what she is capable of when given the right material to work with. I’m so glad she got the chance to play this role and I’m also glad that Robert Eggers was able to make her character far more memorable and compelling compared to the original film.
She deserves all the praise she has been getting but for me personally the most surprising performance of the film was Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, who delivers his most transformative performance since his role as Pennywise in the IT films. Even before we see his disturbing appearance as Orlok he sounded completely unrecognizable with a terrifying voice that shook me to my core the first time I heard it, having an immediate presence that made my skin crawl every time he came on screen throughout the entire film. Bill Skarsgård was able to take an iconic vampire and elevate him to a whole new level, making this one of the best vampire performances we have had in a long time as well as one of the best modern horror villains in my view.
Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgård are definitely the best performances of the film but the rest of the cast is also phenomenal in their performances. Nicholas Hoult absolutely nails the role of Thomas Hutter, capturing the character’s purity and sincerity before it is corrupted by his traumatic encounter with Orlok. Hoult truly makes Thomas such a sympathetic and compelling character with his performance, making you feel the exact same emotions that he feels, fear especially, in many important moments.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin also deliver very compelling performances as Friedrich Harding AND Anna Harding respectively, giving us two good-hearted characters who are tragically pulled into the horror that is unintentionally brought upon them. It is another instance of how innocence can be tainted by pure evil and lead to darkness and despair, much like what happens with Ellen and Thomas.
Robert Eggers has two recurring cast members of his past three films who also have important roles in this film, with Willem Dafoe playing the role of Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz, a controversial scientist, expert in the occult and mysticism, and Ralph Ineson as Dr. Wilhelm Sievers, a doctor who tries to treat Ellen with conventional “modern” medicine. Both of them as expected put forth their best effort for Eggers playing two great characters that represent two sides of this time period when combating the evil of Orlok. One is stuck in the archaic past believing in folklore and fearing what lurks in the darkness while the other is trying to be a part of an evolving world and attempts to rationalize the strange and unusual.
While I still consider Dafoe’s performance in The Lighthouse to be the best amongst his appearances in Robber Eggers’ work I’d say his work in this film is a close second as he really commits to the slightly unhinged nature of this character as well as showing a compassionate and comforting side of him in the moments with Ellen since he is the only one who truly understands the strange psychic connection between Count Orlok and her.
The film’s narrative mostly follows the plot of the 1922 original, which was mostly based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula with a few changes, but there are some significant differences and twists in this reimagining that I loved as it adds new layers and themes to the story to make it stand out from the original and the other remakes. It is very much a full-on gothic horror that is both haunting and disturbing but at its core, it is also a unique gothic love story about loneliness that is masterfully crafted and can also be interpreted in multiple ways.
Much like Eggers’ other works, it is a very slow-burn film that builds up to the terrifying moments yet I was never bored at any point especially since I knew it would ultimately pay off, which it did of course. And even when there are sequences without any dialogue the visual storytelling is what leads the film forward and it was addicting to watch thanks to the magnificent technical work featured in this film that brings this gothic world to life. The cinematography is hauntingly from the first frame to the last thanks mostly to Jarin Blaschke, a frequent collaborator of Eggers in all of his films.
There are certainly some visual homages to the 1922 original littered throughout the film but honestly, it has its own memorable shots that will forever remain in my mind whether they be for their raw beauty or highly disturbing imagery. The use of shadows and masterfully edited transitions is also extremely good, especially for how some of them enhance Orlok’s presence and had me on the edge of my seat constantly.
Robert Eggers and his crew were able to perfectly bring Germany in 1838 to life with spectacular set designs from the untamed wilderness to Orlok’s unsettling castle to the busy city of Wisborg. Then they go a step further in transforming these landscapes after certain events occur like how Wisborg ends up becoming a plague-ridden city after Orlok literally and figuratively casts his shadow over it upon his arrival.
The film leans heavily into using practical effects and very minimal use of CGI, which is always great to see in a modern horror. With so many horror films being so CGI heavy these days it takes away the terror from it but thankfully that was not the case here. Orlok’s practical look was phenomenally terrifying but I will admit I could have gone without seeing his prosthetic pecker in the film that made what was meant to be a frightening sequence that happens stir some laughter from me and the audience I was with.
Robin Carolan, who composed the music for The Northman, returns for this film to deliver an unsettling yet amazing score that further enhances the horror elements and gothic atmosphere of this film as well as enhances the audience’s reactions to certain sequences, whether to feel terrified, disturbed, or somber.
This film is another masterful work of art by Robert Eggers that has instantly become one of my favorite modern horrors and one of my top favorite films of this year. I can’t wait to see what Robert Eggers comes up with next because he can do no wrong with anything he touches. I’m going to give Nosferatu (2024) an A+ = 100.
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