If I made a list of the most anticipated movies of 2024, Nosferatu would probably be very close to the number one spot. I was excited about this movie for a while. I am a fan of Robert Eggers, so him making a remake of the classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1921) just made so much sense. And everything about it worked, even before seeing any trailers. Well, there was one thing I thought I might struggle with – originally, the main protagonist was meant to be Anya Taylor-Joy, and then she dropped out and was replaced by Lily-Rose Depp. And I wasn’t as familiar with Lily-Rose; the only thing I knew of hers was The Idol (2023), a show I haven’t seen yet but heard awful things about. But the moment this movie opened in the UK, I had to be among the first ones to see it, and now, I feel like I owe Lily-Rose an apology for ever doubting her. Nosferatu is a perfect example of how one movie can make many excellent decisions when it could have gone wrong.
I don’t even know where to start because I don’t know what to compliment first. Firstly, the movie looks stunning. Whether you love him or hate him, Eggers understands how to frame a shot, transport you back in time, and put you in a certain mind space, and Nosferatu does all of the above and does it superbly. Eggers is someone who I will watch anything he makes from now on, as his movies seem to be my vibe. The phrase “every frame a painting” gets thrown around a lot these days, but this movie deserves it because there are so many shots you could pause the film, print what’s on the screen, hang it on your wall and be happy about it. Jarin Blaschke (the director of photography who worked on all Eggers’ movies) is one to acknowledge as someone who should be much busier and shoot many more films.
I also loved how this remake honours the original film, but only with one or two scenes. Nothing over the top, the movie forges its own path, and it’s better for it. It stays true to the story of Count Orlok, but Eggers uses this film to talk about a clash of science and faith about love and sacrifice, and everything feels natural. Nosferatu is 132 minutes long, but I never felt that runtime. The movie definitely has a lot of setup, but because of its mood, vibe, call it whatever you want, I was in it, and not one scene felt useless or like something that could have been cut out. The pacing was as smooth as the blood on Lily-Rose’s mouth in some scenes.
It’s time to talk about all the performers, and let me start with Lily-Rose. I have already apologised for not believing in her, so let me just add this – she just gained a new fan. The way she commands the screen every time she is on is phenomenal. She felt vulnerable, and, at the same time, you can see her being a powerful woman who, if need be, can face someone like Count Orlok. Speaking of him, we need to mention Bill Skarsgård. For many, he will always be Pennywise from It movies (my reviews for the first It (2017) can be found here, and for It Chapter Two (2019) here), and even though he is brilliant in both, he is on another level in this film. That’s another decision the people behind this film did well – they never revealed Count Orlok’s look or voice. So the first time you hear him, it’s chilling. And then, later on, you finally see him, and all I can say is wow. Not only did the creature design work well, but there was a tiny thing about Count Orlok’s face that was a choice, but that choice made that already creepy character ultra creepy. I won’t spoil it, but it took me out from a movie for a bit but in the best way. And Bill transcends on the screen and portrays this pure evil so well; I wouldn’t hesitate to put him right next to Heath Ledger‘s Joker. He is menacing and calm; he is this bigger-than-life presence that is somehow felt throughout the movie, and even when he isn’t in the scene, it’s almost like you can feel his aura in every scene. Everything about this character is spot on.
The same goes for Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe and Emma Corrin. They each get at least one scene where they shine, and it’s hard to say anything negative about either of these actors. But Nosferatu isn’t “their” movie; you will leave the cinema thinking about Bill’s and Lily-Rose’s performances the most. I must discuss Aaron Taylor-Johnson because, at first, he was the only performer I struggled with. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but he felt out of place, almost as if he was in a different movie than the rest of the cast. And then it hit me – his performance must be like that because he is us. He is the only “normal” character who tries desperately hard not to lose his mind when his world is collapsing and doesn’t believe immediately. The moment I realised it about his character was when I got on board with his choices.
I also need to mention the soundtrack, which is beautifully haunting. However, another smart decision about this movie is that Eggers understands when to have none of it, resulting in some moments/scenes with no music, and it’s just as effective, maybe even more. I thought Robin Carolan did a stellar job, as it doesn’t sound like your stereotypical “spooky medieval vampire horror”.
If you couldn’t guess by now, I adore this movie, which is a bit strange because my expectations were extremely high going into it. But everything from the casting, camera work, soundtrack, atmosphere, story… it clicked for me and formed a unique cinema experience where the horror is almost secondary. This is, first and foremost, a story about control, love, modern thinking vs “old fashioned” one, and what strength looks like. It’s hauntingly beautiful, and it’s a film I definitely must own when it comes out on 4K.
Overall, Nosferatu is one of the best movies of 2024. I haven’t seen all the major ones yet, but I can’t imagine many would top the experience I had with this movie. I am glad when I am proven wrong, and Lily-Rose in this film proved me wrong. Any other tiny concerns I had also disappeared, and this film is a must-see in the cinema. Funnily enough, despite this being a vampire horror film, this might be Eggers’ most “audience friendly” movie yet, and that is saying something about his wild filmography of only four movies, but each one is unique in its own way. Nosferatu is one hell of an experience.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke
