Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu delivers a gothic horror masterpiece, but one common horror trope negates a substantial amount of the feature’s fear factor. Eggers’ recent remake diverts the source material for the story’s conclusion, but this has little bearing on the film’s success, as Nosferatu hits a box office milestone by entering the highest-grossing horror movie charts. This makes the classic vampire tale the director’s most lucrative project to date, far surpᴀssing the performances of The Northman and The Lighthouse. The horror tale continues to pick up steam in theaters, which is impressive considering the opposing high-budget releases at present.
Nosferatu is very different from the original 1922 silent film, but it is clear that Eggers draws plenty of inspiration from Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. In addition to this, the director takes a range of lore from across a number of sources, and uses the retelling of Dracula to combine his own, unique elements into the story. With that in mind, one of the most stark contrasts between the films is Count Orlok’s new appearance. To some extent, this has a rather adverse effect on the film’s intended terror — which sets the 1922 depiction apart as a more terrifying spectacle.
Nosferatu Avoided Showing Skarsgård’s Vampire In Any Of Its Leading Promotions
Robert Eggers Wanted To Create Huge Suspense Around Skarsgård’s Count Orlok
Nosferatu‘s first look at Bill Skarsgard’s Orlok comes after it’s $135 million box office achievement. Concealing the antagonist prior to release isn’t an unprecedented practice in the horror genre. Perhaps the most favored example is Nicolas Cage’s Longlegs, where this tactic had great success and considerably aided its commercial success. Be that as it may, it is difficult to speculate that the same can be said for Nosferatu. Skarsgård generated excitement around the long-awaited reveal by conceding Orlok is “the scariest performance of [his] career.” However, a closer look at Skarsgård’s aristocratic vampire reveals why the method was so ineffective.
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The final act of Nosferatu shows Orlok in greater detail. The footage accentuates Orlok’s disturbing features, such as his decaying skin and long nails. Nosferatu may have surpᴀssed Longlegs at the box office, but it is difficult to refute that Nosferatu’s reveal falls short of expectations after such a tremendous build-up. Aside from the extensive use of blood, the domineering vampire is not terribly frightening. The vampire subgenre is continuously discovering new and innovative ways to terrify the audience — over the last century, depictions of these mythical figures have made enormous progress. Consequently, Orlok’s final form in Nosferatu feels dissatisfying.
Max Schreck’s 1922 Nosferatu Is A Far More Terrifying Depiction
The Fear Rests In Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror’s Simplicity
Max Schreck’s depiction of Count Orlok is indubitably the most terrifying version of Nosferatu yet. Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is a masterclass in film, and is certainly one of the most iconic silent films ever. The lack of dialogue makes the 1922 film a touch more suspenseful, and creates a more chilling ambiance that affords the chilling visual depiction of Orlok. The simplicity is more effective, providing Schreck with the scope to convey an incredibly unsettling creature. Not to mention, the unearthly set designs and sinister atmosphere subscribe to the frightening nature of the 20th century expressionist motion picture.
It is important to note that Skarsgård did a superb job giving a voice to the illustrious vampire, but the 1922 character felt more realistic, and built a lingering sense of dread that lasts after the credits roll.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror‘s Orlock has more definable features, too. With teeth that resemble a rodent, a hunched posture, and grave gaunt facial features, Orlock’s appearance is closely ᴀssociated with the more traditional portrayal of vampires. The low definition picture and the restricted technology at that time means Schreck’s version of Orlock feels a large percentage scarier than the 2024 remake, Nosferatu. It is important to note that Skarsgård did a superb job giving a voice to the vampire, but the 1922 character felt more realistic, and built a lingering sense of dread that lasts after the credits roll.
