Nosferatu

Robert Eggers was the perfect man to take on this remake. His style and care for folklore in cinema just fits together perfectly with Nosferatu.  Having just watched ‘The Witch’ the night before seeing this, it is incredible to see how far Eggers has come in such a short time - Nosferatu feels like a playground where Eggers can have fun showing us exactly what he can do. The framing and cinematography, paired with Eggers signature dark tone is exceptional - this is a gorgeous film, there are a number of frames that look like paintings, one of many being Nicolas Holt walking down the crossroads with the night shining behind him.  The actors are exceptional, Bill Skarsgard is unrecognisable as Count Orlok - a perfect showcase of acting is when Thomas first visits him, the way Orlok is hiding in the shadows, commanding Thomas with his low, alluring voice until eventually you see a deep dark desire in his eyes that leads to intense uneasiness. The rest of the cast are also exceptional, notably Nicolas Holt, Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe. Aaron Taylor Johnson’s performance can be quite exaggerated and eccentric at times, but it doesn’t take anything away from the film, as the film itself can feel quite eccentric. I love the way shadows are used throughout Nosferatu - the way Orlok lingers in the shadows is truly unsettling, paired with his control over shadows, his presence is felt all through the movie and feels as though he controls everything that’s happening. Another stand out for me was the sound design, the eerie score is so atmospheric, it’s the perfect fit. Outside of the score, things like Orlok’s bite sound grotesque, making you want to turn away. This is exactly what a vampire movie should be: It’s cold. It’s haunting. It’s atmospheric. It’s beautiful.