Warning: This article contains spoilers for Nosferatu.
At the end of Nosferatu, I ᴀssumed that Count Orlok’s fate had to do with classic vampire lore, yet a recent Robert Eggers interview has proved that this isn’t quite true. Based on the 1922 movie, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, 2024’s Nosferatu tells the story of Ellen Hutter, a young newlywed who is haunted by horrifying dreams. Her sense of dread only worsens when her husband travels to meet a mysterious count, and comes back with tragic news. Since premiering at the end of 2024, Nosferatu has earned strong critical praise.
One of the most entertaining elements of Nosferatu is how Eggers combines traditional vampire tropes with the original Nosferatu story. While the movie is full of scares and horror, it also subverts expectations at just about every turn. For example, Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok is not a bald, pale-faced creature but an imposing moustached man covered in furs. Ellen is certainly Orlok’s victim, but she also can’t resist his call. Even the end of Nosferatu switches up what audiences expect through Count Orlok’s death.
I Thought Count Orlok Was Killed By The Sunlight In Nosferatu’s Ending
Orlok’s Classic Vampire Death Worked
At the end of Nosferatu, Ellen defeats Count Orlok by inviting him into her home and making love to him until the sun rises, after which, he dies. Watching this scene, I ᴀssumed that Orlok’s death was a result of the sunlight streaming in. Past vampire stories have often emphasized vampires’ aversion to sunlight, and Orlok himself only appeared at night, sleeping in his coffin during the day. Therefore, I had no doubts about Orlok’s sun-caused demise.
In fact, Orlok’s death made plenty of sense to me in terms of story as well. Ellen sacrifices herself for the greater good of those she loves and the city at large. She allows Orlok in as a trick, distracting him enough that he forgets about the time. It is a bittersweet sort of moment, as Ellen must leave behind her loved ones, but also, gets one final chance to feel the pleasure Orlok gives her before they both die. However, it turns out this isn’t exactly the case.
Robert Eggers Explained Count Orlok Didn’t Die From The Sun In Nosferatu
How Eggers’ Explanation Changes Orlok’s Death
It is easy to ᴀssume that Orlok dies by sunlight in Nosferatu, but the truth is subtly different. In an interview with The New York Times, Eggers explains that in the original Nosferatu movie, Orlok’s death coincides with the sunrise, and Eggers wanted to repeat that magical final moment. However, he makes it clear that it isn’t the sunlight that kills him, and in fact, the 1922 movie partly created that myth. It is not the sun that kills Orlok, but the fact that “in folklore…the vampire must be in their grave by the first cockcrow.”
As Eggers says, it is the “purity of dawn,” that Orlok cannot handle, not the light itself.
This minute change in Orlok’s death actually says a lot about Orlok and vampires in general. The rule of vampires being averse to sunlight is a somewhat arbitrary myth, as it has little symbolic meaning. It simply implies that vampires are creatures of the night. However, the belief that vampires must return to their grave before dawn is a much more meaningful idea. This hints that vampires are not of this world and are living on borrowed time. As Eggers says, it is the “purity of dawn,” that Orlok cannot handle, not the light itself.
Robert Eggers’ Explanation Of Nosferatu’s Ending Changes How I See The Movie
Eggers’ Dedication To Folklore Makes Nosferatu So Much Better
Overall, Eggers’ revelation about the sunlight and the original Nosferatu totally changes my view of vampires in media. There have been countless iterations of vampire stories, each of which puts its own spin on the blood-sucking creatures. However, knowing that the sunlight myth was accidentally created from a far deeper idea in 1922’s Nosferatu shows how these legends can change, and worse, be misinterpreted. Honestly, Eggers’ clarification shows how Nosferatu is dedicated to a far older and more accurate version of vampires.
Ultimately, Orlok’s death is just one example of how Eggers sticks to the original Nosferatu lore, and how that makes the movie better. By defying more obvious vampire tropes and focusing on folklore more than realism or surprise, it makes Nosferatu feel refreshing and authentic. Overall, I’m impressed with Eggers’ attention to detail and hope he makes more movies like Nosferatu in the future.
