The statement in an interview regarding the remake of the horror classic Nosferatu caused outrage at PETA: According to the director, more than 5,000 live rats were used for the shooting of a scene. Just before the premiere, the organization speaks out.
Why is PETA upset? The animal welfare organization PETA (short for “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals”) is reacting angrily to a statement by Robert Eggers, the director of the new Nosferatu film.
In the Q&A of the first screening, Eggers revealed that he used 5,000 live rats for the filming of a scene, which in the film symbolically bring the deadly plague to the city.
Rats as scapegoats for the plague?
What does PETA criticize about the use of the rats? PETA has long criticized the use of animals in films, series, and other media. The use of the mentioned 5,000 rats for entertainment purposes and their portrayal as disease-carrying vermin is described by the organization as “highly shameful”:
In real life, a rat is no more likely to harm or kill a human than a vampire, and false portrayals of these animals as harbingers of death deny viewers the chance to see them as the intelligent, social, and caring individuals they are. The only ‘plagues’ that viewers should be worried about are directors who expose animals to the chaos and confusion of a shoot.
Lauren Thomasson, PETA Director for Animals in Film and Television (Source: PETA)
PETA urges the audience not to adhere to the stereotypical image propagated by the film industry but to recognize the other social sides of rodents. They form close bonds, play together, and laugh when they are tickled.
Where does PETA get these statements from? The fact that rats are not the cause of the plague is based on a study in which scientists identify a different cause and spread of the “Black Death”. In the study, scientists examined various possibilities in the form of simulations for how the plague might have spread.
According to the scientists, there is too little historical and archaeological evidence for rats as the primary carriers of plague outbreaks. Rather, they see fleas and ticks on humans as the most plausible explanation.
No rat was lost
What do the director and the film crew say about the rats? Production designer Craig Lathrop informs Variety that not a single rat was overlooked or lost, as they were kept in a controlled area.
Eggers explained that the rats visible in the foreground of the shot are real. The animals seen in the background of the scene from a distance are CGI rats. He also adds that the live rodents were very well trained, but the smell on set was quite crazy.
What’s next? PETA decides to make a statement against blaming animals for the spread of the plague by attending a Nosferatu screening in Beverly Hills with an oversized rat. While the premiere of Nosferatu in the USA takes place on December 25, 2024, the German release date is set for January 2, 2025. For those interested in more movie releases in December 2024, they might also look forward to this film: Mufasa: The Lion King: Release date, trailer, and age rating – All the info about the prequel to the Disney hit
