Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ is Gorgeous
Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu | Credit: Focus Features
Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) and Thomas (Nicholas Hoult) seem to be on their way to newly-wed bliss when a dark obsession comes and threatens to take away everything.
This is a remake of the 1922 film by the same name and stays largely faithful to the original story. There are some additional pieces in the film, but the narrative beats are the same. Most of the major set pieces that you’d expect to see in a Nosferatu adaptation are there. And they all look stunning!
Robert Eggers is known for his visual style and ability to create really captivating imagery. He will go deep into the lore of a subject and ensure that those elements are present in the final work. And Nosferatu fits perfectly in his filmography.
A lot of the film looks like it’s in black-and-white, often with an ominous blue tint to it. This felt like such a wonderful homage to the original film, which, of course, was filmed in black and white. We’re no longer living in the 1920s, so Nosferatu opens up in full color, often with vibrant yellows and oranges, providing a wonderful contrast to the darkness.
The set design is stunning and immersive. Of course, I don’t want to be hanging out with Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), but when a film looks this good, I just want to keep watching. Each location has a unique feel to it, from Count Orlok’s castle to the Hutter’s flat to the Hardings’ lavish home. Each one is dressed with care to create stunning visuals.
Nicholas Hoult in Nosferatu | Credit: Focus Features
Because this film was directed by Robert Eggers, I knew it was going to be beautiful. I wondered if everything else would measure up to the aesthetics. And it does!
This cast gives tremendous performances. Bill Skarsgård is unrecognizable as Count Orlok, perfectly embodying his pure evilness. This is truly a horrifying film as he takes his victims and does what he wants without any regard for anyone else. The prosthetics are exceptional, and Skarsgård utilizes them incredibly well. He’s a horrifying character without a single redeeming quality, and we see that on full display in this film.
I was most surprised by Nicholas Hoult’s performance as Thomas Hutter. During his first encounter with Orlok, he goes from slight unease to absolute terror, and you can feel just how scared he is. You can see the regret and fear overtake him as Orlok makes his disturbing presence felt. That is one of the most tense scenes in the film, in large part because of Hoult’s performance.
Lily-Rose Depp gives a bold and brave performance as Ellen Hutter. She is the beating heart of this film, and you feel her pain. We see her struggles with her own mental health, her determination to be listened to even as others doubt her, and her certainty to do the right thing. She is both a damsel in distress and the hero of her story, which is a fascinating combination.
Finally, Willem Dafoe is a wonderful complement to Ellen as the eccentric Prof. Albin Eberhart von Franz. I’m consistently impressed with Dafoe who knows when to step into the spotlight and steal attention and when to simply act as a support to the other actors. And we see that in his performance in Nosferatu. At times, your eye is drawn to him as he commands the scene. But in other moments, particularly when Ellen needs to be the focus, he makes sure not to outshine Lily-Rose Depp. What an impressive feat for such a tremendous actor.
Willem Dafoe in Nosferatu | Credit: Focus Features
Nosferatu is a thrilling update to the 1922 film. It keeps the story intact while adding elements to enhance an already gripping story. Count Orlok is the stuff of nightmares, and the more that you think about the film, the more terrifying he becomes.
I appreciate that they included my favorite line from the original film, when Ellen says to Thomas after he’s given her a bouquet of flowers, “Why have you killed these beautiful flowers?”
Absolutely perfect.