Nosferatu Is Freaky af...And I Kinda Liked It? | NON-SPOILER REVIEW
I'm late to the party I know.
Over a century after its original release, Nosferatu is back in the spotlight. With Director Robert Eggers's stellar track record, The Witch and The Lighthouse, I was thrilled to witness another film of Eggers's undertaking. While I've never seen the original, my only familiarity with Nosferatu came from Count Orlok's cameo in Spongebob.
So—yeah, I went into this with zero expectations. Before diving into the girth of this review—no pun intended. It would be criminal to not mention the cinematography. Jain Blaschke, Eggers's go-to cinematographer, transforms every frame into a living painting. His work breathes life into this gothic world of 1838 Wisburg, Germany, and Transylvania, and the results are nothing short of mesmerizing.
From what I’ve gathered, Nosferatu (2024) follows the same beat-by-beat structure as the original Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922). The story follows a young man summoned to a bloodthirsty vampire's lair while his wife becomes entangled in an ominous force that threatens their lives. While staying true to the essence of the original, Eggers takes creative liberties, most notably by highlighting Ellen Hutter's (Lily-Rose Depp) chilling and erotic experiences with Count Orlok.
Depp is a force to be reckoned with, commanding the screen with her disconcerting expressions and unparalleled range as an actress. She draws us into Ellen’s world of loneliness and her taboo desires with an unsettling authenticity. The rest of the cast is equally as impressive. Dracula's weird, adversely sexual stepbrother, Count Orlok, portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, is hypnotic. He's grotesque in this role and even has a fashionable mustache and hairpiece to go with it. Skarsgård's voice work and physicality guarantee an unforgettable portrayal. I need this man booked and busy in the video game and animation industry. He's that good!
Side note: I did not realize how thirsty some of you guys are over Count Orlok Because what do you mean you can BUY A CARDBOARD CUTOUT OF HIM?
JAIL!!!!
Anyway…here’s the link for it👀: Count Orlok's Cutout
Nicholas Hoult, as Thomas Hutter, deserves praise for conveying his terror through the screen. The supporting cast overall—Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, all deliver standout performances, making a phenomenal ensemble.
As for the technical aspects of the film, they are just as exceptional. Linda Muir's costume design is intricately detailed, and Craig Lathrop's production design is nothing short of mesmerizing. Damian Volpe, the sound artist for Nosferatu makes Count Orlok’s deep and guttural voice, boom throughout the castle and send chills shooting down your spine.
All in all. The story is solid but not without its flaws. The pacing lags in the middle, and a tighter runtime would have benefited the overall experience. That said, it remains visceral, unsettling, and freaky AS FUCK, making it a worthy contender in the gothic-horror genre.
Recap:
The good: The cast is phenomenal, and the production overall is top-tier.
The bad: Pacing issues, with some scenes dragging in the second act.
The ugly: Count Morlocks back (WHY WAS SHE FINGERING IT???).
Score: 3.5/5
