REVIEW
NOSFERATU (2024) – NERDNCO REVIEW
8 out of 10
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024) takes a bold swing at revamping the classic vampire legend first immortalized by F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film and later reimagined by Werner Herzog in 1979. On paper, another retelling of Dracula–adjacent lore might sound redundant, but Eggers proves there is plenty of life (and blood) left in this age-old tale. Featuring Bill Skarsgård as the menacing Count Orlok, Lily-Rose Depp as the haunted and alluring Ellen Hutter, and Nicholas Hoult as the earnest but doomed Thomas Hutter, this moody period piece deftly melds gothic romance, occult horror, and psychological drama into one ravishing experience.
INTRO & CONTEXT
A Visual and Thought-Provoking Masterpiece
Spoiler-free: Nosferatu is an intensely atmospheric film that feels both like an art-house passion project and a chilling foray into classic vampire territory. Eggers, known for The Witch (2015), The Lighthouse (2019), and The Northman (2022), infuses the material with his signature historical detail, meticulous production design, and bold directorial choices. The result is a movie that lures you in with haunting visuals, creative practical effects, and an ethereal score, only to unnerve you with blood-curdling terror and taboo undertones.
Elevator Pitch for Newcomers
If you’ve never seen the 1922 original or read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, imagine a brooding nightmare set in 19th-century Europe, where a mysterious count with a taste for blood enshrouds a small town in plague and darkness. Amid the carnage, a resilient young woman forms an unnervingly intimate psychic bond with the vampire, challenging her own reality and the townspeople’s sanity. It’s a love story, a horror story, and a psychological spiral all in one – think Crimson Peak with more gruesome bite, or Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) reimagined with a bleak, dreamlike aesthetic.
STORY & STRUCTURE
Faithful Yet Daring
Eggers’ version of Nosferatu remains surprisingly faithful to the broad strokes of Murnau’s original. We still follow Thomas Hutter’s journey to Orlok’s Transylvanian castle, the creeping arrival of the plague on a doomed ship, and Ellen’s ultimate sacrifice. But the director adds contemporary layers to the mythos, making the sexual undertones – once only hinted at – far more explicit and central to the story. Ellen’s character is granted a more substantial backstory and psychological complexity: it’s her longstanding psychic connection to Orlok that sets the plot in motion.
Balancing Homage with Innovation
Where the 1922 film was a straightforward retelling (albeit with changed names to avoid Bram Stoker’s estate), Eggers expands side characters like Knock (Simon McBurney) and the Hardings (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin), giving them more dimension and emotional stakes. He also introduces Willem Dafoe as Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz, a welcome spin on the Van Helsing archetype that injects the film with both erudite humor and occult fervor. The resulting tapestry balances the best of the original’s stark horror with a newly minted storyline that feels fleshed out and urgent.
CHARACTERS & PERFORMANCES
Bill Skarsgård’s Haunting Count Orlok
Having already proven his horror chops in It (2017), Skarsgård brings an entirely different brand of menace here. Instead of a clownish trickster, he’s the embodiment of a centuries-old corpse-nobleman, clad in decayed finery and sporting a sinister mustache that links him to Bram Stoker’s original Dracula. His performance is entrancing and repulsive; there’s a hulking physicality to the way he lurks in shadows, yet he’s eerily graceful in moments of near-seduction.
Lily-Rose Depp as the Star of the Show
If anyone walks away from Nosferatu most changed by the experience, it’s Lily-Rose Depp. Her Ellen is no passive victim or mere romantic interest. She’s grappling with repressed desires, occult visions, and a deep, unsettling tie to Orlok. Depp delivers a masterclass in range – from trembling terror to sensuous enthrallment to ferocious resolve. She’s simultaneously vulnerable and formidable, anchoring the film in a raw emotional truth that keeps you invested long after the credits roll.
Nicholas Hoult’s Earnest Thomas
Thomas Hutter is typically the underwritten hero in many Dracula-related adaptations. Here, Hoult imbues the character with empathy, naivety, and gradually unraveling sanity. His journey – from unsuspecting realtor to traumatized survivor – is relatable and heartbreaking, even if overshadowed by the more iconic forces swirling around him.
CINEMATOGRAPHY & VISUALS
A Gothic Feast for the Eyes
Eggers’ collaborations with cinematographer Jarin Blaschke are known for their hypnotic quality, and Nosferatu is no exception. The color palette skews toward dark blues, ashen grays, and the occasional candlelit golden glow. Nighttime sequences glisten with an unsettling sheen, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with practical lighting and in-camera tricks. It feels simultaneously vintage and avant-garde, as though we’re peering into a 19th-century painting come alive.
Memorable Visual Moments
Two standout scenes:
The Final Scene: As dawn breaks, Ellen sacrifices herself to defeat Count Orlok, luring him into a fatal distraction. The visuals are a breathtaking mix of horror and symbolism, with Ellen's pale, lifeless form juxtaposed against Orlok’s crumbling figure as the sunlight engulfs him. This Renaissance-inspired tableau, evocative of the "Death and the Maiden" motif, becomes a hauntingly poetic and devastatingly beautiful conclusion that lingers long after the credits roll.
Shadow Over Wisborg: At one point, Orlok’s elongated shadow sweeps over the rooftops like a living omen. This visual metaphor – a nod to Murnau’s iconic shadow play – merges classical reference with modern cinematic flourishes.
THEMES & TONE
Repressed Desire & Occult Influence
The notion of forbidden lust, bodily autonomy, and a dangerous psychic bond pulses throughout the story. Ellen’s mix of fear and fascination with Orlok underscores how deeply the film plunges into ideas of corrupted innocence. Like Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), it doesn’t shy away from the more erotic facets of vampirism – but here, it’s filtered through Eggers’ moody lens, making it feel intimate yet grotesque.
Cohesive or Fractured?
Despite juggling horror, gothic romance, and psychological drama, the film maintains a strong cohesive core. There are jump scares, sure, but it’s more of a slow-burn dread that culminates in horrifying bursts of violence and heartbreak. The occasional comedic touch – often courtesy of Dafoe’s unorthodox vampire-hunting professor – never undermines the overarching dread; it simply gives you brief respite before plunging you back into shadow.
SOUND DESIGN & SCORE
Hypnotic and Unsettling
Robin Carolan’s score is integral to the film’s haunting atmosphere. Ominous strings and choral elements swirl in the background, capturing the blend of religious hysteria and pagan mysticism. From the whispered hushes of nighttime silence to the squelching, visceral sounds of vampiric feeding, the audio envelops you in dread.
The Cues That Linger
One particularly unnerving motif is the low, rhythmic chanting whenever Orlok draws near. It’s almost subliminal, but once you notice it, the atmosphere of every scene shifts from curiosity to alarm. The attention to detail in the sound design – including the sickening squelch of blood – makes each feeding or transformation genuinely disturbing.
DIRECTION & STYLE
Eggers’ Signature Touch
Fans of Eggers’ previous films will recognize the painstaking historical authenticity, layered dialogues, and symbolic imagery. Like The Witch and The Lighthouse, Nosferatu thrives on suggestion and psychological tension. Expect metaphorical visuals tied to plague, doom, and lost faith. Eggers also leans heavily into the “horny gothic horror” vibe, ensuring that the raw sensuality of the vampire myth resonates through each frame.
Pacing and Momentum
Though the majority of the film unfolds at a measured pace, there are a handful of rushed beats – especially involving secondary characters – that might leave you craving more backstory or a tighter resolution. Even so, the overall flow remains absorbing. You’ll find yourself lulled by the mesmerizing visuals, then jarred by sudden jolts of violence or revelations.
COMPARISON & LEGACY
Homage Meets Evolution
Compared to Murnau’s 1922 silent classic, Eggers’ adaptation is more overtly erotic, character-driven, and dialogue-rich. Gone are the purely silent stares; in their place, we have potent conversations steeped in occult lore and personal trauma. The film also departs from Herzog’s 1979 Nosferatu the Vampyre by emphasizing Ellen’s agency and reintroducing more of Stoker’s “Dracula” DNA, from references to cursed land to an allusion of the Van Helsing archetype.
Position in Eggers’ Filmography
Is it Eggers’ best? That’s subjective. If you adored The Witch for its creeping dread and The Lighthouse for its claustrophobic descent into madness, you’ll likely appreciate Nosferatu for delivering that same brand of atmospheric horror on a grander scale. It feels slightly more accessible than his earlier work, though it remains unabashedly art-house. Some might still prefer the raw punch of The Witch or the hallucinatory intensity of The Lighthouse, but Nosferatu stands proudly among them as a worthy evolution of his style.
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Major Strengths
Hypnotic Cinematography: Every shot is meticulously composed, often breathtaking and eerie in equal measure.
Lead Performances: Lily-Rose Depp commands the screen, while Bill Skarsgård proves once again he can sink his teeth into any horror role.
Production Design & Score: Ornate costumes, moody sets, and a chilling soundtrack transport you completely into this world.
Atmosphere & Tone: The film oozes a dark sensuality that’s both repellent and compelling, in true vampire fashion.
Minor Weaknesses
Occasional Rushed Plot Points: A few subplots feel compressed, leaving some characters underdeveloped.
Slight Pacing Hiccups: While the dreamy flow suits the film’s gothic aesthetic, a couple of moments might benefit from tighter editing.
FINAL VERDICT – 8/10
Nosferatu 2024 review: Nosferatu (2024) is a meticulously crafted gothic horror that confidently weaves classic vampire lore with modern sensibilities. Its gorgeous visuals, engrossing lead performances, and haunting score elevate it beyond a mere remake, even if the narrative occasionally stumbles with pacing or underutilized characters. We at NERDNCO believe this is a must-see for fans of Robert Eggers, lovers of gothic romance, and anyone craving an atmospheric, slow-burn vampire tale. Despite a few imperfections, it’s an engaging triumph of style, substance, and spine-tingling horror – deserving of a solid 8 out of 10.
Recommended For
Hardcore Horror Fans & Eggers Enthusiasts: If you enjoy unsettling period pieces with historical flair, this is right up your alley.
Vampire Aficionados: It’s a fresh spin on a time-honored myth, complete with mesmerizing set pieces and eerie eroticism.
Art-House & Indie Film Devotees: The visual and thematic ambition rivals any festival darling, so prepare for something truly cinematic.
Who Might Want to Skip
Viewers Preferring Fast-Paced Horror: The film’s moody, deliberate pacing might feel slow if you’re after constant jump scares.
The Squeamish: Some feeding sequences are intensely graphic, complete with disturbingly detailed sound design.
Ultimately, Nosferatu (2024) breathes new life into an ancient myth, honoring the shadows of the past while paving a new path for vampire cinema. If you can handle its eerie intimacy and methodical dread, this is a film that’ll stay etched in your mind (and nightmares) long after you leave the theater. It’s hauntingly beautiful, just a tad imperfect, and absolutely deserving of a watch.
OUR REVIEW
Score: 8/10
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024) is a hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking journey into gothic horror. The film masterfully balances chilling terror, forbidden romance, and stunning visuals, immersing viewers in its dark and poetic world. Bill Skarsgård’s mesmerizing performance as Count Orlok and Lily-Rose Depp’s emotionally complex portrayal of Ellen elevate this tale of obsession and sacrifice.
The cinematography and score are breathtaking, blending shadowy atmospheres and eerie soundscapes to create a sense of dread that lingers. While a few plot points feel rushed and some pacing moments could have been tighter, the film’s hypnotic artistry and bold reimagining of a classic vampire story more than compensate. Nosferatu earns a solid 8/10 and a standing ovation from the NERDNCO team for its captivating take on gothic horror.
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