Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu: Will His Signature Style Elevate or Drag Down This Classic Reboot?
You know, there have been a few films that I wanted to watch recently that didn’t quite do it for me.
There was The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman. I was interested in these films for various reasons - people talking about them, folk elements, horror.
And they all have one thing in common. They were all directed by Robert Eggers. To be fair, they have a few cast members featured in more than one as well.
Robert Eggers has a style that manages to make something that I expect to like into a slow and boring slog. I understand what he’s not only trying to do but succeeding in doing. It just doesn’t seem to work for me.
Then, in 2024, I hear that Nosferatu is getting a reboot.
A gaslamp horror remake of something that is at the time of writing 102 years old, but with modern filmmaking technology. Yes, please.
I promptly watched the trailer and can you guess who the director is?
ROBERT EGGERS.
The film is set for release at Christmas 2024, or January 1st 2025. Willem Dafoe returned to working with Robert Eggers after featuring in both The Lighthouse & The Northman and had this to say:
I saw The Witch and I liked it so much I arranged a meeting with him… I’m excited to be with him again. He’s a great filmmaker and I enjoy his company.
Dafoe should know all about this type of film from his role as the antagonist in The Shadow of the Vampire (2000).
The original Nosferatu from 1922 was based on the 1897 novel, Dracula. Bram Stoker even has a writing credit for the film on IMDb, despite it being an unofficial adaptation!
However, no such luck for Mr Stoker in Mr Eggers' reboot. There is also a slightly different plot.
The question of whether a reboot was needed comes up in this article on ScreenRant, as some say the 1979 film, Nosferatu the Vampyre, is better than the 1902 original. This is in part down to the characters having dialogue and therefore being more fleshed out for old Nosferatu to feast upon.
There is a lot to like from the teaser trailer.
We have some very recognisable characters like Willem Dafoe’s portrayal of the Van Helsing character, and Simon McBurney as the Renfield character.
One issue I have with some modern shows that are supposed to depict a historical period is that the costumes or the set sometimes look new. They should look and feel lived in. I like the look of what we've seen from the set in the trailer.
There is also a nice shot which I think is a nod to the creepy scene from the 1922 film where Count Orlocula is framed by the doorway as he makes his way into the room. This shot is similar, but there are also wolves in the shadows!
What do you think about Robert Eggers’ films?
Are you looking forward to his Nosferatu remake, or expecting it to be a hard slog?
Let me know your thoughts below.
I would say that Eggers doesn't (yet at least) have a signature style. Each of his films is different in look, feel and technical execution. The common thread is an obsession with historical authenticity and attempting to marry that with a convincing sense of emotional depth.
That said, I have an open mind as to the Eggers Nosferatu remake. It may be wonderful or it may be his first dud, remains to be seen. Though I love the Murnau original, I actually prefer the 1979 Herzog version, there's something about the shabbiness of it all, plus the tremendous charisma of the three lead actors, that makes it so watchable.
I'm planning a Back to Back double-bill film essay in a week or so to prepare for the new Nosferatu, featuring the 1979 film and a fascinating meta-comedy-horror about the (fantasy) making of Nosferatu (also starring Willem Dafoe) with John Malkovich as Murnau. It's called Shadow of the Vampire (2000) and well worth a look just for the wild performances!
I doubt that the guy playing Count Orlock will be able to match what Max Schrek did in the original.