2024’s Nosferatu is a horror movie bursting with eerie elements, yet one of the most astonishing and impressive is Count Orlok’s otherworldly voice. Nosferatu premiered in December 2024 and marked Robert Eggers’ fourth ever feature film. The director, known for his bleak landscapes and rich stories, did not disappoint. Nosferatu managed to retell the classic vampire story in a way that both honored the original tale and also felt refreshing and new. From piles of rats to Lily-Rose Depp with blood running down her face, the film offered plenty of high-intensity moments.
Of course, one of the greatest parts of Nosferatu is the тιтular character himself, Count Orlok. Played by Bill Skarsgård, Orlok is a terrifying creature who not only looks intimidating, but has a chilling presence. We first see him at his estate in Transylvania, where he looms over Thomas, looking both like a man and a beast. Truthfully, Skarsgård completely transforms in this role. He’s unrecognizable with his thick mustache, pallid skid, and half-bald head. Yet, the aspect of this character that is truly outstanding is Orlok’s voice, which is deep, guttural, and totally unlike Skarsgård’s own voice.
Count Orlok’s Voice Is Meant To Be Disturbing, Other-Worldly & Ancient
Why The Count Orlok Voice Works
Orlok’s voice is so creepy because he is supposed to be a supernatural creature. Although he looks mostly human, Orlok is a nosferatu or vampire, and his voice is a detail that helps build up that idea. He is not just a regular man or vampire, but an ancient being that isn’t quite from this world. Orlok’s voice also adds to the general ambiance of his character. His gravelly, slow voice perfectly fits his big frame and his domineering presence. Orlok’s voice is shocking, but that’s exactly the point. Every moment with Orlok on screen is supposed to be a scary one.
Without the Orlok voice, the main villain might not have been nearly as terrifying.
The Orlok voice definitely makes an impact on the movie, and it would be a lesser film without it. Skarsgård is already known for embodying roles where he becomes unrecognizable, but Orlok may be his best character yet. All traces of Skarsgård are gone in favor of this awful creature, whose voice seems as though it’s coming from the pits of hell. Without the Orlok voice, the main villain might not have been nearly as terrifying. Thus, Orlok’s voice simply makes him more effective.
Bill Skarsgård Rehearsed His Voice Through Opera & “Mongolian Throat Singing”
Skarsgård Needs To Take More Roles Like Orlok
Some may be surprised to learn that Orlok’s voice was all done by Skarsgård. According to USA Today, Skarsgård was adamant about doing the voice himself and worked hard to achieve the result. The actor worked with an Icelandic opera singer to bring his voice down an octave, and perfected a detailed voice routine that he would complete before shooting so that he could get into the character. Skarsgård said, “A lot of it was just the technicality of rooting the voice as deep as you can in your body and using your entire body to make the voice resonate.”
If we have learned anything from Skarsgård’s performance in Nosferatu, it is that the actor needs to take on more roles like this one. Skarsgård is clearly a dedicated actor, and isn’t afraid to put on prosthetics or go through training to get a certain look on camera. Therefore, Skarsgård should continue pursuing these types of transformative roles so that viewers can enjoy even more characters like Orlok in Nosferatu.
