One of cinema’s most iconic vampires is out of the coffin again. Robert Eggers‘ “Nosferatu” finally debuted to film press and first reactions are calling the horror drama a “knockout” with impeccable below-the-line craft.
A reimagining of F. W. Murnau’s 1922 silent German Expressionist film, “Nosferatu” stars Lily-Rose Depp as a young woman who becomes the object of desire for the terrifying vampire Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). Eggers’ supporting cast includes Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney and Willem Dafoe. The director penned the script for “Nosferatu” himself.
Variety senior awards editor called the film “gorgeous and horrifically brilliant,” saying Depp is “haunting” and Skarsgård is “menacing.”
Indiewire chief film critic David Ehrlich highlighted all the sweaty “writhing” in the movie, perhaps a superlative amount. And he meant it as a compliment.
Variety senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay flipped for the movie, saying Eggers has delivered “a perfect remake.”
Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist had awards on the mind after the screening, saying the movie is a “major below the line player.” Interestingly, he asserted the opinion that Depp has a shot at a nomination in the supporting actress race — a distinguishing from a lead role that’s notable given Depp’s high billing.
Los Angeles Film Critics Association member and Variety contributor Courtney Howard says “if you’re not afraid of rats before seeing this movie, you will be now,” along with the note that it “goes harder than any other horror film this year.”
Gizmodo and io9 reporter Germain Lussier gave the caveat that the film is “not my favorite Eggers,” but still deemed the feature a “knockout” with “a hint of devilish humor.”
Eggers has long been an outspoken fan of Murnau’s film and remaking it was a passion project for the filmmaker, whose directorial efforts so far include “The Witch,” “The Lighthouse” and “The Northman.”
“It was an indie horror in its day, a bit rough around the edges yet it’s one of the greatest and most haunting films ever made,” Robert Eggers once told Shudder about “Nosferatu.” “The newly restored color tinted versions are really impressive, but I still prefer the poor black and white versions made from scraps of 16mm prints. Those grimy versions have an uncanny mystery to them and helped build the myth of Max Shreck being a real vampire.”
“Nosferatu” opens in theaters Dec. 25 from Focus Features.
