Happy Holidays and rejoice! As we end the year of our lord 2024, we’ve been gifted with several movies in the cinema that have been talk of the town. One of them being Robert Eggers’ newest gothic, period film that may or may not be taking horror to new heights. “Nosferatu” features a wonderful cast that includes Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Eggers takes on the classic vampiric story of Dracula (in this case Count Orlok) with this remake of the 1922 horror staple and he makes strides with his distinct vision of dread. Robert Eggers has given the consumers different flavors of horror with “The VVitch” and “The Lighthouse”, but “Nosferatu” is constructed to be his scariest (and horniest) thus far.
With three fantastic films under his belt, can Eggers go 4/4? The answer is a strong, resounding yes. “Nosferatu” is fantastic.
Transformative Performances
As mentioned above, “Nosferatu” has a powerful cast of fantastic physical actors. Firstly, this movie goes absolutely no where if they don’t nail the Count Orlok casting. Luckily, Bill Skarsgård was given the keys to that vehicle. My god, what a horrifying transformation. Skarsgård is completely unrecognizable as the Count aided by a outstanding prosthetics and makeup. His presence is felt in legitimately every scene even without him being physically present. Robert Eggers constructed such a stark dread with his version of the character that is deeply felt the entire 132 minute runtime. If the Academy had a pair, they’d at least gift him a nomination.
Speaking of the Academy, they need to also take a close look at Lily-Rose Depp’s performance. Depp is absolutely amazing in “Nosferatu” with a display of such gifted physical and emotional acting. With full transparency, I had no idea what Depp could do as a very quickly rising actress. The fact of the matter is that she completely stole this movie with her striking performance.
The rest of the cast absolutely puts up numbers as well with complete devotion to the Victorian Era time period. It is an extremely immersive film experience with all that is being thrusted by the cast of this film. Eggers continues to display confidence in his performers with “Nosferastu” in a triumphant way.
A Technical Spectacle
Director Robert Eggers is a self described perfectionist with a keen eye for minute details. As a clearly skilled period director, his vision thus far has been continually flawless with accurate costuming and dialect. Eggers is one of the best working filmmakers in that regard and absolutely nails it with “Nosfertu.” The film is dreary and beautiful like a bad Victorian dreamscape with fantastically constructed set design and professional framing to bring it all together.
The setting of 1838 Germany looks terrifyingly amazing with extreme detailing in each open space and room. I simply cannot wrap my head around how Eggers can successfully instill practical lighting in each of his movies and have it look this great. “Nosferatu” is such technical marvel in that regard and that’s not even accounting for the photography and sound design. It’s shot so carefully with so much thought packed into each composed frame that sometimes feels like a moving nightmare. Adding to the attentive cinematography is the amazingly petrifying sound mixing. In IMAX, I heard some of the scariest, loudest sounds and stings I’ve ever heard and felt.
To sum up how well this movie is made and directed, it is noteworthy that this film feels like it was meant to be longer. The pacing and editing at times feel like scenes and progressions are being slightly rushed. Perhaps there will be a Director’s Cut to create more of a flow that I feel that was missing. Nonetheless, Robert Eggers’ contrived a beautiful yet horrifying technical marvel that needs to be seen theatrically.
Succumb To Darkness (Complimentary)
“Nosferatu” is simply awesome. From its inspiring direction to the transformative acting performances, it takes massive swings within the horror genre and potentially just cemented itself as a gothic horror staple. Its not just a pretty face too. “Nosferatu” is semi allegorical for using sex in a manner that is good as opposed to evil. This film is extremely horny in the most artful way possible and it has a lot of interesting things to say about temptation and sex being used for the greater good. Entirely intriguing and appropriate considering this is a classically told vampiric tale.
The Academy Awards rarely considers the horror genre and seemingly ignores it controversially. I will be imploring them to consider “Nosferatu” in several categories including technical and acting. It is rare we get a big budget gothic horror with as much immersion as this. “Nosferatu” is one of the best horror movies in the last decade and should be celebrated as such.
Go check it out this holiday season. It’s amazing. Perfect for the whole family.
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Martigan
January 13, 2025 at 3:07 am
the film was entertaining had some highs too it, but one of the best in the last decade is questionable. It’s a very decent cover song at best. But it is a cover song,
A remake, a re-imagination (barely), but not an original by any means. To hold it to moderns originals that contend with a “Best Of” term would be a bit much.
But what was poor about it was a lot of the “try hard” cinematography and the terrible attempt at trying to induce suspense with the over-use of those claustrophobic shots. making it look like a first time cameraperson or director of photography.
-M-