Year of Release: 2024
Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review
Following the critically well received "The Northman", writer/producer/director Robert Eggers has returned, this time around with a remake/retelling of the "Nosferatu" narrative, which was previously tackled by F.W. Murnau and Werner Herzog, respectively in 1922 and 1979. The narrative, which takes place in the 19th century, focuses on the tribulations which occur on the life of a recently married real estate salesman by the name of Thomas Hutter. Thomas is tasked with getting a series of papers signed by a foreign count, by the name of Orlok, who lives in Transylvania, but who wants to retire in the town of Wisborg, Germany. Thomas leaves for Transylvania, though his enamored and troubled wife Ellen pleads with him not to go. Thomas agrees to go since the commission from the sale will enable him and Ellen to have a good start to their married life. While he's traveling, Ellen stays with her best friend Anna, who is married to Friedrich, with whom she has had two children, and is expecting a third one. Thomas' trip is a challenge but he eventually finds his way to the castle, where he meets the Count. The elusive count is very strict about his wishes, and as it turns out, is in fact the source of the ominous warnings Thomas got from the populace he encountered on his way to the castle. The Count starts draining Thomas, who eventually manages to flee the castle, all the while Ellen's sleepwalking, vivid nightmares, and psychic connection to the Count become stronger and stronger. While Ellen gets the medical help of Dr. Sievers and eventually of Professor Von Franz, the Count starts his journey towards Wisborg, and his desire to claim Ellen.
"Nosferatu" is based or inspired by the fantastic novel of Bram Stoker ("Dracula"), but also on the script of Henrik Galeen, which was the base for F.W. Murnau's 1922 classic, which was eventually also redone by Werner Herzog. Having recently watched Werner Herzog's take on the material, the retelling by Robert Eggers' is definitely a far more sumptuous and aesthetically superior take on the material, even if at its core the narrative is very similar. Most of the characters of this narrative are of course the ones which populate Bram Stoker's Dracula (of which the operatic and luscious take from Francis Ford Coppola remains my favorite adaptation of the material), with Thomas being a version of Jonathan Harker, whereas Ellen is a version of Mina, and so forth. Robert Eggers does manage to elevate Herzog's take on the material, not solely because of his refined aesthetics, but also because he takes time to explore the nuances of all the central characters. This group of characters, all of which eventually find themselves under the attention or influence of the vicious Count, are presented with enough individuality and traits to feel palpably convincing in their relationships and desires. All of them are far more than a simple cliché (the one that almost falls under the typical cliché is Knock, in reality the Renfield character, who can easily become an excuse for overacting, thankfully not in this interpretation). Robert Eggers also smartly emphasizes Ellen's guilt, her evocation of the creature, her psychic connection with it, and in turn spins the Count as a malevolent creature, but also one that is beyond redemption or salvation. The cast is uniformly stupendous, even Aaron Taylor-Johnson who usually flounders, though Lily-Rose Depp's Ellen is portrayed very one note. It would be unfair to single out anyone, since all these performers do an excellent job in bringing these characters to life. The production team is of course superb, with highlights going to Robin Carolan's score, Jarin Blaschke's cinematography, Craig Lathrop's production design, and Linda Muir's costumes. This adaptation may not reach the heights of what Francis Ford Coppola or F.W. Murnau did with their takes of Bram Stoker's novel, but it's a solid film from a very talented film maker.
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