Film Review: Nosferatu (2024)
An atmospheric and slightly terrifying remake of a remake.
Director: Robert Eggers, 2024
Orlok: I am an appetite. Nothing more. O'er centuries, a loathsome beast, I lay within the darkest pit. 'Til you did wake me, enchantress, and stir me from my grave.
I watched Robert Eggers’ reboot of the 1922 screen ‘adaption’ of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on New Year’s Day. There are strong performances throughout by the main cast, particularly with Bill Skarsgård’s chilling vocal performance as Count Orlok, and Simon McBurney’s delightfully unhinged Knock/Renfield character; but the real star of Nosferatu are the incredible Carpathian Alps in the first half of the film as Hutter (Nick Hoult) journeys to Count Orlok’s mountain fastness. The primordial cold and the Roma exhumation and exorcism customs Hutter encounters en route were wonderfully executed; though the film moves into conventional Hollywood fare in the second half as Orlok haunts the city of Wisburg on his quest to meet Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp). I’d honestly rewatch the first half with the accompanying score and no dialogue, and be just as impressed.
This review originally appeared in Dispatch Edition #3.
The Dispatch is a monthly roundup by British speculative fiction writer, Jordan Acosta. News, short reviews and more, published every first Thursday. You can subscribe at jordanacosta.co, and read previous editions, here.
In complete agreement. That second half was a letdown. For me, the star of the show is the cinematography. I was excited to see this film but then felt I'd wasted time and money.