In the 1830s, estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting with Count Orlok, a prospective client. In his absence, Hutter's new bride, Ellen, is left under the care of their friends, Friedrich and Anna Harding. Plagued by horrific visions and an increasing sense of dread, Ellen soon encounters an evil force that's far beyond her control.
Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, Willem Dafoe
Release Date: December 25, 2024
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
Rated R for bloody violent content, graphic nudity and some sexual content.
Runtime: 2h 12m
Review:
Robert Eggers' remake of 1922's Nosferatu doesn't add much to the general story but it's a visual marvel of the macabre that delivers a wonderfully opulent series of gothic imaginary that's sure to leave an impression. Eggers's talents are perfectly suited for the subject matter and every shot reflects his deep affect and love of the material. He manages to create an impressive sense of dread and foreboding even though the story doesn't offer up much in the way of surprises. He and his cinematographer, Jarin Blaschke, meticulously frame shots with an incredible level of care which results in a steady stream of memorable shots with the blue toned monochromatic night shots being particularly effective. The film moves at Eggers' usual pace but a series of well-placed shocks pepper the film with those moments injecting the screen with chaotic energy. Lily-Rose Depp delivers stellar work in some of these moments with a physical performance that's filled with wild fits of manic gyrations that echo moments from The Exorcist more than anything else. She maintains a detached, almost trance-like stare during the film's quieter portions with exasperated moments of lucidity allowing her to display a full range of emotions. Depp's turn is fascinating from start to finish but it’s one of those aspects that you'd wish Eggers had expanded on since there's plenty of fertile ground to explore outside of the repressed sexuality of the original. The supporting cast is made up on a solid group of performers but similarly the script doesn't ask a lot of them outside of looking terrified, like Hoult, while he's being cuckold or borderline crazed like Willem Dafoe which is about par for the course for him. Aaron Taylor-Johnson looks the part but some of his lines come off as unintentionally comical partly due to his handle bar mustache. Emma Corrin is wasted for the most part as she's given very little to do outside of stand around and ask how Depp's Ella is doing and reassure her she's not a burden. Bill Skarsgård is tasked with portraying Count Orlok which he does with a heavy Eastern European accent in between wheezes. His portrayal paired with the creature's makeup makes for a far more decrepit depiction of the monster with any sense of suave sexuality from other integrations stripped away to something more primal. The character's full features are slowly revealed throughout before being shown in its full glory in the final act as we get the full scope of his massive, rotting corpse. In the end, Nosferatu may prove to be one of Robert Eggers more accessible film for those looking for high end frights and fitting tribute to one of the original horror films.
A-
