Spoilers think this one is too familiar.

Let’s put our cards in the table. I’ve never seen the original film. This is a remake, and I try my hardest to never compare two different pieces of work. That’s going to be impossible because even the first one is an adaptation of the most adapted work of all time. Every character has a different name, but they all have a counterpart with the same interpersonal dynamic and mostly all the same plot with the same story beats. So, I’m going to try to just look at the execution but the bias is going to be hard to overcome.

(Credit: Focus Features)

Nosferatu (2024) was written and directed by Robert Eggers, based on the film by F. W. Murnau which was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) and Thomas (Nicholas Hoult) are newlyweds living in the town of Wisburg, Germany circa 1838. The movie already starts with establishing a connection between Ellen and a supernatural entity since some years back. Now Thomas has been given a commission to sell an old property to the mysterious Count Orlock (Bill Skargard). Ellen is very reluctant and confesses she’s been having nightmares. She finally agrees to let him go while staying in the care of their friend Friedrich Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his wife Anna (Emma Corrin).

The film has a more raw feel that gives it more of a folklore horror style. The movie is really dark with Orlock always appearing as a gruesome aberration. The production intentionally keeps all scenarios rustic and devoid of any elegance. It was really hard to get into the film for the first half up until the very welcomed appearance of Professor Von Franz (Willem Dafoe). This performance was the one that for me carried the film the rest of the way. I do have mention that Lily-Rose Depp does put an amazing performance, specially when she acts posessed. However it’s Dafoe that ended carrying the film from the moment he appears.

It’s a homage to a film that itself is an adaptation of the most adapted work of fiction that exists, so comparisons are unavoidable. It does take a rather strong suspense of disbelief to put aside all other adaptations. This was particularly impossible for me as I am biased by the over-the-top 1992 Francis Ford Coppola version which, flaws and all, is indefensibly a guilty pleasure for me. It was almost impossible to put it out of my mind, because Robert Eggers’ work as closer to folk horror as it is I can’t help to find less entertaining. So my biases kind of spoil this one for me, but perhaps you can still be spared.

Somewhat recommended for the folk horror enthusiast that would want a more raw and animalistic version of the vampiric legend. I will say that Lily-Rose Depp cuts deep with her performance although I preferred the more nuanced Willem Defoe. If you’re in the mood for the deep and the dark, it can be worth a watch but your mileage might vary.

That will do for now.