• Release year: 2024
• Director: Robert Eggers.
• Producers: Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Robert Eggers, John Graham, and Jeff Robinov.
• Screenplay by: Robert Eggers.
• Cinematography by: Jarin Blaschke.
• Music by: Robin Carolan.

Shotgun Commentary: delightful adaptation of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) to modern sensibilities.

Review

Nosferatu is one of those films that will go down in history and be constantly shared on socials. Not because it’s necessarily life-changing, but because it is beautiful AF. As far as remakes go, this one might be in the very top, combining gothic aesthetics with just enough nonsense to make it fun.

Out with the old, in with the new

The feature has the general structure of pretty much all the Nosferatu/Dracula films. Scapegoat goes to count’s castle and is attacked. Count likes his wife, count goes to stalk his wife in person, scapegoat tries to save his wife. From here on, Nosferatu and Dracula films diverge. If you have seen at least one of each, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you can read all about it in the review of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922).

Looking back on the previous versions of Nosferatu, one can find certain strokes seeping onto Nosferatu. From the annoying laughter of Mr. Hutter’s boss, to Mrs. Hutter’s dismay over cut flowers, to the name Orlok, used in the original Nosferatu film, but not in all its remakes.

Still, Eggers manages to make this film his. Mostly due to the carefully crafted cinematography that characterises all his works, but also thanks to the small additions that make the plot all the more logical. Questions that have haunted these works since the very beginning, like “why does he have a slave if he’s risking running around the village coffin in hand?”, are finally put to rest.

The… quirk?

Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that the narrative is flawless. There are plenty of absurd moments, but at least they are new to the franchise. Plus, they are this writer’s favourite brand of nonsense: the one that can actually be explained if you obsess enough. Things like asking to sleep with your best friend when you know a horrible monster will visit, or untying a man who likes to attack people, are only two of many small details that, despite not being very reasonable, will make you chuckle.

Of course, an Eggers film would not be such without a naked old man doing rituals in a circle of candles (The Northman, 2022). There needs to be just enough nudity and grossness to make you feel uncomfortable, but not enough for you to blame the film. Are you grossed out, but don’t want to admit it because you think you won’t look as chic? Yep, that’s an Eggers movie. You can add a naked woman on a horse, for good measure, but you’ll probably be able to tell before that.

Thinking of a modern audience

Speaking of which, the best decision of the feature, right after casting Bill Skarsgård as Orlok, is finally giving the hero the protagonism she deserves. Tired of virgins being the answer to all horror films’ problems? Look no further! Satan’s lovers can also be the heroes now… Only they might be cringier on their methods.

In a cheap attempt to be Vanessa Ives (Penny Dreadful, 2014-2016), this version of the hero, Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), is also plagued with guilt over accidentally giving herself to a demon. You know, as one does, on a crazy Friday night of sleepwalking.

This results in tons of aerial sex with an invisible partner. A passtime acted wonderfully by Depp despite the borderline ridiculousness of her character as a whole. The long-awaited separation between a woman’s virginity and her ability to make the right decisions is muddled due to yet another portrayal where the “impurity” of the woman seems to make her incapable of standing her ground. It is a bold move to change a character from a beacon of purity to the villain’s sex toy. However, Depp rises to the occasion, delivering a character that, despite being completely unrelatable, looks pretty convincing.

THE critique

All the same, Ellen Hutter’s character does provide the perfect opportunity for a jab at the sexism of the time. Particularly regarding medicine. This area of knowledge has been under quite a lot of criticism for focusing solely on the wellbeing of men and disregarding female health, effectively gaslighting half of the world population into thinking that, because men don’t have certain issues, said problems do not exist.

Topics like heavy metals found in tampons, the omission of endometriosis versus the amount of studies made for erectile dysfunction, and other mind-blowing historical facts, make the small commentary featured in the film especially relevant.

Forcing Hutter to wear a corset despite her dire situation because it will “improve her posture”, or tightening the contraption further because she can’t breathe, are the type of counterintuitive actions that have plagued the medical system regarding women’s health since the very beginning of time. Not to mention the whole concept of witches… but that’s a story for another day.

A complete stranger

One can’t review Nosferatu without talking about the man (vampire?) himself: Count Orlok. A villain unlike any of his ancestors. He is no longer an evil being who gets infatuated by the picture of a woman and travels across the world to eat her. Now, he is an evil being who is actually connected to the female protagonist before the whole ordeal begins.

This makes the narrative more reasonable, and the villain more than a simple monster. Skarsgård delivers a blood-curdling performance, completely disappearing inside Orlok. Both his physical appearance, courtesy of an unequivocally talented makeup department, and his voice, are completely foreign to anything you might have seen Skarsgård do before, monsters included.

Furthermore, the only connection this Orlok has to previous representations is the weirdly cute hat he wears during his first meeting with Mr. Hutter. An accessory that is not identical to the original, but fits the story quite nicely. Other than that, this might be the most disgusting and complex count out of any Nosferatu movie. The reactions of Mrs. Hutter to his presence, as well as their relationship, making you second-guess yourself as to how repulsive he actually is. Are you missing something? That’s only for you to answer.

Slaying victims

As for the main victim, Mr. Hutter (Nicholas Hault), he delivers the best bare-faced performance of the film. A great achievement in a film where the competition is fierce. This is the first Hutter that truly communicates the horror he’s experiencing.

While other Mr. Hutters [Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror and Nosferatu the Vampyr (1979)], simply recoil as slowly as possible from the vampire, this Hutter actually behaves like a human being would in a situation like that. One of the close-ups of Hutter’s face in particular, set during one of Orlok’s attacks, might just be the best victim performance in horror of the year. After this work, one can safely say that Hault should definitely consider more roles in horror.

Lastly, there is Mrs. Harding (Emma Corrin) and Mr. Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Corrin manages to shine incredibly bright despite her devastatingly scarce lines and time on-screen. Her latest moments on the film confirming that she is, indeed, one of the best actresses on the rise right now.

As for Taylor-Johnson, his performance is annoyingly confusing. What at first seems like an actor having way too much fun playing a posh lord becomes a theory put to the test during the second half of the movie. There is such a drastic change in his performance that you are forced to wonder whether he’s playing a fake rich man really well, or he’s just a lot better during dramatic moments than he is at being discreet when needed.

One can choose to think it was all on purpose. That his aim was to highlight how fake Harding is until he’s got nothing left to be fake about. But the opposite could be just as true. Much like with Orlok’s appeal, the decision is up to you on this one.

All about the vibes

You didn’t think one would review an Eggers film without going into the aesthetics, no? If you have seen the trailer or any of the promotional materials, you already know that you are in for a GORGEOUS feature. As expected, the film plays with natural elements, lights, shadows and textures, to deliver the best winter gothic aesthetics of the decade. This film is the Pinterest feed of anyone into Tim Burton, Edgar Allan Poe and The Sisters of Mercy. Are you into snowy landscapes and luxurious architecture that has seen better days? You are in luck, my friend!

In addition to a beautiful landscape, with a goth Cinderella moment and all, the atmosphere of the film would not be complete if it weren’t for a few more departments. Small mention to the editing here, that Hutter-to-seagull transition? Masterful. But if one department can pat themselves on the back, it is wardrobe. Those gowns will haunt your mind with their melancholic aura and Victorian gothic beauty.

In fact, they are so beautifully crafted that they might even take up the space in your memory where the soundtrack should be. A composition that, while enjoyable, does fall on the old tricks. Music box sounds and sudden loud noises are very effective in horror, but they do cheapen a feature that is so well-thought-out in all other aspects.

All in all, Nosferatu is the dream of any gothic horror enthusiast. The story, as well as the acting, is risky and wonderful. Every detail is thought of and it shows, making you want to drink the whole tale and ask for seconds.

Thanks to Universal for big-screen access! Nosferatu will be released the 25th of December in the US and 1st of January in UK.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Can’t believe I have to say this, but booty-calling a monster is NOT a wise choice.
• If your kids are screaming in terror in their room, grabbing the gun that is literally next to you might be the correct choice, just saying.
• Never wear Victorian curls. I don’t care who you are, or how you look, just don’t. Never.

What’s your take? Have you watched Nosferatu? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀