“Nosferatu” (2024)
I admittedly am not a big Robert Eggers fan, but I knew the filmmaker was capable of creating a compelling version of “Nosferatu.” He has advanced mastery in moments of moodiness, which this story has in high supply.
His delight in the dreary and penchant for making the dark beautiful all come to light in this latest take on “Nosferatu.”
On top of the fantastic direction, storytelling and visuals, the performances are incredible. Lily-Rose Depp really goes for it as Ellen Hutter, the woman at the center of Count Orlok’s desires.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Orlok (a truly unrecognizable Bill Skarsgard) tricks Ellen’s husband, Thomas (Nicholas Hoult), into separating from her with help from Orlok’s familiar, Herr Knock (played here with aplomb by Simon Burney). If this story sounds like Dracula, that is because it is a German variation of Dracula’s lore popularized by F.W. Murnau’s 1922 film adaptation and Werner Herzog’s 1979 “Nosferatu the Vampyre.”
I love gothic horror in large part due to the 1922 version of this story, and Eggers loads up those gothic vibes in every frame.
I saw someone else describe this latest adaptation as “gory and horny,” and it is truly apt. I get the feeling that this take on “Nosferatu” is going to become a new alternative Christmas staple for a lot of folks.