Nosferatu (2024): A Sarcastic Review of the Much-Awaited Vampire Revival

Published On: December 26, 2024 10:27 am

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If you thought Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024) would offer a refreshing, blood-pumping vampire tale, you may want to lower your stakes. While Eggers is undoubtedly a genius in creating atmospheric horror, his obsession with meticulous period detail and brooding cinematography might leave some viewers feeling like they’ve just sat through an overly expensive art school project.

This review isn’t here to sink its teeth into the film mercilessly, but when a director of Eggers’ caliber dives into the vampire genre, you expect more than just a shadowy homage to a 1922 classic.

A Film That Tries Too Hard to Be Artistic

Eggers has a signature style that revels in gloomy settings and introspective characters. With The Lighthouse and The Witch, this approach felt innovative. In Nosferatu, however, it borders on self-indulgent. Sure, the gothic visuals are breathtaking, with candlelit rooms and eerie Eastern European landscapes, but after the tenth lingering shot of a shadowy staircase, even the most patient cinephiles might feel like screaming, “We get it, Eggers. It’s creepy. Move on!”

The problem with Nosferatu (2024) isn’t the lack of effort—it’s the overabundance of it. Every frame seems to scream, “Look at how much thought I put into this!” rather than letting the story naturally unfold.

Bill Skarsgard: A Perfect Count Orlok

Let’s give credit where it’s due. Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok is both terrifying and mesmerizing. With his gaunt features and unsettling charisma, Skarsgård embodies the perfect vampire. His performance is so good, in fact, that you almost forget the rest of the characters exist. Unfortunately, this isn’t because Orlok is meant to overshadow them—it’s because the supporting cast feels underwritten.

Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen does a commendable job, but her role is largely confined to staring longingly at the horizon or looking terrified in Orlok’s presence. Her character lacks depth, serving more as a plot device than a person.

Willem Dafoe: Underused Talent

When you cast Willem Dafoe in your movie, you’d better give him something juicy to work with. Unfortunately, Eggers seems to have forgotten this golden rule. Dafoe’s role, shrouded in mystery during the film’s promotion, turns out to be disappointingly minor. While he delivers his lines with the gravitas you’d expect, his presence feels more like a cameo than a pivotal part of the narrative.

Plot: A Slow Burn to a Predictable End

The story of Nosferatu remains true to its roots, following Count Orlok’s obsession with Ellen and the subsequent havoc he wreaks. However, Eggers’ pacing makes it feel less like a thrilling descent into darkness and more like a slow crawl through a dimly lit museum.

By the time the climax arrives, you’ve already guessed how it will play out, leaving little room for surprise or excitement. The dialogue, while period-accurate, occasionally feels overly formal, making it hard to emotionally connect with the characters.

Cinematography: Stunning but Exhausting

Visually, Nosferatu is a masterpiece. Every frame is meticulously crafted, with haunting shadows and chilling symmetry. Eggers and his cinematographer deserve applause for their attention to detail. But here’s the rub: when every single shot is so artistically loaded, the movie begins to feel exhausting.

Eggers’ Direction: A Double-Edged Sword

Robert Eggers clearly adores Nosferatu and wanted to create a love letter to the 1922 classic. However, his reverence for the source material might be the film’s downfall. Instead of taking bold creative liberties, Eggers seems content with playing it safe, resulting in a movie that feels more like a high-budget homage than a fresh take on the vampire legend.

One can’t help but feel that Eggers is a bit too enamored with his own vision. While his ambition is admirable, it often comes across as pretentious rather than profound.

Score and Sound Design: The Unsung Hero

If there’s one aspect of Nosferatu (2024) that deserves unreserved praise, it’s the score and sound design. The haunting orchestral music and eerie soundscapes perfectly complement the film’s gothic tone. In fact, the audio elements do more to convey the terror and suspense than the visuals or dialogue.

Audience Reaction: A Mixed Bag

Critics may gush over Eggers’ artistry, but general audiences are likely to be more divided. Fans of slow-burn horror and period pieces will find much to admire, but those looking for a gripping vampire tale with pulse-pounding thrills might leave the theater disappointed.

The movie’s slow pacing and heavy-handed symbolism may appeal to cinephiles but alienate casual viewers. As one theatergoer aptly put it, “It’s beautiful, but I wouldn’t watch it again.”

Rotten Tomatoes and Reviews

Early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes reflect the polarized reception, with critics praising the film’s craftsmanship while audiences remain lukewarm. Some describe it as “a haunting masterpiece,” while others dismiss it as “style over substance.”

Final Verdict

Nosferatu (2024) is a film that’s easy to admire but hard to love. It’s a testament to Robert Eggers’ talent as a filmmaker, but it also highlights his tendency to prioritize style over storytelling.

While Bill Skarsgård’s performance as Count Orlok is a standout, the movie’s slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, and overly artistic direction prevent it from reaching the heights it aspires to.

For die-hard fans of the original Nosferatu or Eggers’ previous work, this film is worth a watch. For everyone else, it’s a beautifully made movie that might leave you feeling cold.

If you’re planning to see Nosferatu (2024), go in with tempered expectations. It’s less about thrills and more about atmosphere, so don’t expect a typical vampire movie. Instead, prepare for a moody, gothic art piece that’s as divisive as it is ambitious.