While many films are tales of good versus evil, “Nosferatu” is a story of nothing but evil and darkness. The film immerses the viewer in the long gone past of 1838 Germany following a young woman, Ellen Hutter, and the deep, disturbing, almost predatory relationship she shares with a horrifying vampire and how this dynamic affects all those around her.
Aside from Hutter, the person most affected by this relationship is her husband, Thomas. At the film’s beginning, you see their passion and love for each other; as the film progresses, their relationship changes, and you see them grow closer and further apart over and over again. The film depicts one of the most emotional, realistic, yet heartbreaking stories of love and desire ever portrayed on screen.
Placing the film in 1838 Germany allows for the usage of real-life events such as the Bubonic Plague. Actual historical events made the story even scarier and more realistic. The Bubonic Plague worked well with the film’s use of rats as an image of evil and to support the film’s disturbing tone.
As the director of “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse,” this is not director Robert Eggers’ first film in the historical horror genre: his experience shows.
The film frequently switches between some of the most vibrant colors to wholly black and white. The way color varies by scene sets the tone of each scene, making viewers feel more immersed in the film. The drastic change from the bright colors of Ellen and Anna’s dresses to the dimly lit disturbing halls of Count Orlok’s castle makes the film feel unpredictable and leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat, never knowing what may come next.
Every element and detail of the film is thoroughly considered and deliberate. Whether it be a drop of sweat on a character’s face, the way their hands shake subtly, or the creaks of an old distressed bed frame, every detail in the film tells its own story and helps cement its disturbing tone.
Sound design is one of the most important parts of filmmaking, and with an extensive sound department, “Nosferatu” does not disappoint. Many scenes are almost entirely silent, while others utilize Robin Carolan’s suspenseful and terrifying score to frighten the audience using their ears alone.
Elements of the film evoke similarities to classic monster movies, along with other horror films and period pieces. Eggers has merged elements from multiple different vampire tales. Some elements are derivative of the many versions of the story of Dracula, while similarities to the film “Van Helsing” are prominent at specific points. Of course, the movie is mainly an adaptation of “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.”
The film earns its R rating as it delves into very mature themes and often features imagery unsuitable for children.
Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal of Count Orlock will go down in history as one of the most intimidating and frightening characters ever put to screen. His time playing Pennywise in the recent “IT” films proves helpful for the second horror movie monster of his career. The way Orlock’s voice can be so timid and low yet still command a room and strike fear into whoever is around is astounding. The way he carries himself is so disturbing throughout the entire film. Even when his body is hidden, it is one of the film’s scariest elements, and it is only made more troubling when his unsettling and grotesque true form is revealed.
The erotic yet disturbing nature of the film puts a dark twist on themes of love and sexuality that greatly enhance the experience of the film and also leave the viewer in deep thought. The way intimacy is utilized often supports the unsettling nature of the story while also playing a large part in the story of Thomas and Ellen’s twisted love and Orlock’s disturbing infatuation and desire. Instead of exclusively presenting sexuality as something romantic, the film depicts it as an aggressive, traumatic, and almost abusive burden at times.
Some of the most sickeningly beautiful things in the film stem from the most abnormal and twisted imagery. The opposite of this is also prominent throughout the film, as the story’s most troubling and disturbing elements can be hidden behind seemingly passionate and loving visuals.
While most horrors rely heavily on gore, “Nosferatu” utilizes unsettling imagery and sounds to scare the audience. Though disturbing imagery is the primary way of striking fear into the viewer, gore is often present throughout the film. Still, it is only used when necessary and adds to the narrative.
The characters’ wardrobe and set designs are some of the film’s most detailed elements, making the setting of 1838 Germany more realistic. The characters’ posture and accents are also some of the most enticing details that show the cast and crew’s dedication to making this fantastical tale as realistic as possible.
The actors and actresses are often put in scenes with little to no dialogue, which requires much of the acting to be done with their bodies and eyes. The way their eyes twitch or the amount of time between blinks are some of the film’s most disturbing and enticing details.
“Nosferatu” has received a reasonably good reaction from critics and audiences. The film received a 7.8/10 on IMDB, an 85% rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics, and 75% from general audiences.
Phoenix Theaters employee Jackson Rybak has observed the film attracting both horror fans and lovers of older films.
“It’s tapped into the gothic horror crowd obviously, and that crowd loved it,” Rybak said. “It also drew in a good amount of people who love older films. The theatre had a surprising age range because of the movie.”
“Nosferatu” transcends traditional horror by blending disturbing imagery and striking visuals to give viewers an unforgettable cinematic experience. The cast puts their all into every performance, enhancing the film’s emotional depth. The way love and lust are intertwined with the most disturbing themes throughout the movie will leave the audience terrified and deeply intrigued by the film and contemplative long after the credits have rolled.
