“A thrilling mystery masterpiece – a chilling psycho-drama of blood-lust.” Synopsis: Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter’s wife. Original German title: Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens

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Calamity Brains:

Silent movies tend to be a divisive category – usually either you love them, or you hate them. Personally, they’re not my preference, but I’m able to appreciate them for their historical value or as works of art. Many failed to survive to modern days, and many of those that did aren’t good examples of the form. Luckily for us, Nosferatu still exists and serves as an excellent example of classic horror.

As with most silent movies, the acting is very exaggerated – more familiar to pantomime or stage acting than what we see in today’s films. For modern viewers, this exaggeration gives silent movies an unintentionally campy feel. But Nosferatu avoids that fate to some extent, courtesy of Max Schreck. As the vampiric Count, Schreck uses his body language to excellent effect. Even with the stuttering cameras of the time, the difference between the Count’s subtle movements and hunching posture contrasts wildly with the elaborate enthusiasm of the other characters. It imparts an otherworldly feel to what might otherwise be a forgettable movie.

In addition, the camera work in Nosferatu is impressive. Though extremely limited by the technology of the time, there was still a lot of effort that went into selecting shots. The outdoor scenery is beautiful even through the lens of poor technology and time. Characters are often framed within shots. And of course, there’s a dramatic use of light and shadow (particularly in the famous shot of Orloff climbing the stairs).

Nosferatu is often recommended because of the time period it’s from, rather than any real attachment to silent movies or the content of this one in particular. And I’ll agree – for historical value alone, it’s worth watching. But even as someone who isn’t in love with silent movies, there are thoughtful flourishes throughout this film that make it stand out even today.

*NOTE: Nosferatu was originally filmed in German. Though it borrows heavily from Bram Stoker, names were originally altered to try and keep the filmmakers from being sued. Once Nosferatu made its way to English-speaking countries, multiple versions popped up with various name changes. Some of the English language versions are more faithful to original novel, while others use completely different choices.

Calamity Brains’ Rating: B
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