It’s not perfect, but it’s an essential horror film, and Max Schreck’s performance is unforgettable.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is a silent film from 1922, and it’s an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The studio behind it, along with director F.W. Murnau, was sued, and all prints were ordered destroyed. Luckily, several copies were distributed internationally and survived to this day. That’s a good thing because this movie had a huge influence on the vampire genre of film.
The plot follows the same basic story as Dracula, though with some changes. The setting is altered, with the fictional locations replaced by Bremen and Transylvania. The story centers on a real estate agent named Hutter. His boss sends him to Transylvania to help Count Orlok purchase a house in Bremen. Hutter travels to meet Orlok, leaving his wife behind, but soon discovers that Orlok might be more than just a wealthy buyer—he may be a vampire.
After a strange dinner with Count Orlok, Hutter wakes up to find bite marks on his neck, assuming they’re from a mosquito. But as Orlok hurriedly prepares to leave, Hutter begins to realize that Orlok is actually Nosferatu, a vampire. Meanwhile, back home, Orlok uses his ability to hypnotize and control Hutter’s wife from afar. As Orlok sails to Bremen, Hutter tries to figure out how to save his wife and stop the vampire.
One of the most notable aspects of Nosferatu is that it’s the film that introduced the idea of sunlight being harmful to vampires. Before this film, there was no such notion in vampire mythology. Now, this concept is canon in every vampire story.
The performance of Max Schreck as Count Orlok is another highlight. His portrayal of the vampire is haunting. With his elongated fingers, sharp ears, and gaunt appearance, he’s truly the best part of the film. The special effects are primitive by today’s standards but, for a 1922 film, they’re impressively inventive. There’s some stop-motion animation, negative exposure effects, and fast-motion scenes that contribute to the film’s eerie atmosphere.
While Nosferatu may look a bit dated now, it still holds up as a creepy film, especially when Count Orlok is on screen. I highly recommend it, particularly if you’re a horror fan or someone interested in film history. It’s about an hour and 20 minutes long, and it’s filled with early film-making techniques that make it an important piece of cinematic history.
Nosferatu is in the public domain, so you can find a myriad of different versions of the film. If you have access to the streaming service Tubi, definitely check out the versions available there. My preferred version is the Kino Lorber edition of the film on Blu-ray.
It’s not perfect, but it’s an essential horror film, and Max Schreck’s performance is unforgettable. Also, if you’re interested in learning more about this movie, check out 2000’s Shadow of the Vampire, which features Willem Dafoe playing Max Schreck in a fictionalized story about the making of Nosferatu.
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
