Robert Eggers directs this second remake of the terrifying 1922 German film of the same name, itself an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Nosferatu is set in 1838 Germany, with a haunted young woman, Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) and the ancient Transylvanian vampire stalking her, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård).
I was lucky enough to see the original on the big screen in, I think, a 75th anniversary re-release. This latest version does not reach the heights F.W. Murnau’s classic, but it has a lot going for it. Eggers’ direction, Jarin Blaschke’s cinematography and Craig Lathrop’s production design create a waking-nightmare atmosphere, with similar expressionist touches that were prevalent in the original. Blaschke shoots a lot in very washed out colour, producing a near black and white effect that also helps draw comparisons with horror movies of the 1920’s and 30’s.
The cast are all solid, with Ralph Ineson’s doctor and Willem Dafoe as the academic who tries to defeat the evil count standing out. I particularly enjoyed Simon McBurney’s portrayal of Orlok’s wannabe servant as it reminded me of the great Dwight Frye from my favourite vampire movie, Dracula from 1931. Coincidentally, Frye’s character from that film, Renfield, was recently played by Hoult.
For most of the run time, I found the tone genuinely unsettling, and there are some scary moments. However, the momentum is not quite maintained until the end as the story starts to flag a little and the ending is a little underwhelming.
Despite those minor misgivings, this is a very early contender for the best horror film of 2025.
Rating: 8 out of 10