Currently, you can watch a movie highlight for horror fans on Amazon Prime Video. Especially those who enjoy vampires and dark goth vibes will get their money’s worth. MyMMO author Christoph Waldboth reveals why you shouldn’t miss the film.
In 2024, Nosferatu by director Robert Eggers premiered in theaters, and I thought to myself: Again?
After all, adapting the story of the vampire Count Orlok is hardly a stroke of genius when it comes to originality. Two films of the same name already exist. One is the undisputed silent film classic by German director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, and the other is the remake by Werner Herzog from 1979.
And even though Robert Eggers follows in the footsteps of his predecessors, his modern interpretation of the material manages to leave a lasting impression.
A well-known story
What is Nosferatu actually about? Anyone who has seen any adaptation of Dracula or read Bram Stoker’s book knows the story of Nosferatu. This is because the first film adaptation by Murnau was basically an unauthorized adaptation.
The vampire, who for licensing reasons is not named Dracula but Nosferatu, seeks a property in a German town, whereupon the real estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania to meet the Count and stays at his castle.
At the same time, Nosferatu visits Thomas’s wife, Ellen, in her dreams and becomes the object of desire. So far, so familiar. I wondered what Robert Eggers, the director of films like The Witch and The Lighthouse, wants to do differently or anew.
After watching the movie, I was wiser: Eggers stages the film as a classic horror tale and clearly foregrounds the dark goth atmosphere. The visuals look fantastic and resemble romantic paintings, thanks to the stylish cinematography, costumes, and set design.
Nosferatu, played by Bill Skarsgård, is significantly more brutish than previous versions. While Max Schreck lived up to his name and appeared like a mysterious being from another world in 1922, the vampire portrayed by Klaus Kinski was mainly a tragic figure.
Skarsgård’s version seems obsessed, unstoppable, and comparatively realistic. This brings a new type of horror, as he feels more tangible and down-to-earth than his predecessors.
In addition, there are strong performances, especially from Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen. However, there are some weaknesses: Occasionally, there are humorous moments that feel out of place. At 132 minutes, the film is also too long and sometimes feels stretched.
If I had to rank the three Nosferatu films, Robert Eggers’ version would only land in third place despite all its qualities. The incomparable atmosphere of the original and the poetic touch of Herzog’s version simply suit my taste more.
Where can you watch the film? Those who want to catch up on Nosferatu can currently do so with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video. And director Robert Eggers is already working on the next horror myth. His Werwulf is set to premiere in 2026, and it will once again be a folk horror film. Have you seen Nosferatu and have an opinion? Feel free to write it in the comments. The film didn’t come without scandal: PETA calls for a boycott of a horror film because the director used 5,000 live rats for a scene
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