The lights came on, and I didn’t know what to make of this film. I figured I’d sleep on it and maybe some thoughts would come to me. Sleep, and how restless it was, was the answer.
Nosferatu, which director Eggers has been working on for nearly a decade, is haunting. But it’s also magical, as it makes me appreciate the original more. It’s faithful whilst feeling like it fills in the technical, story, and emotional blanks I had whilst watching the 1922 version
Lingering shots into blackness alongside uninterrupted takes where the amazing cast work through multiple raw emotions. Even Finch from The Office is excellent.
At the time I marvelled at how well Nicholas Hoult portrayed being terrified. I wouldn’t be surprised to discover he’d actually wet himself. It truly felt as though he was in the presence of pure evil and was utterly unsettling. And that’s partly because Bill Skarsgård gives us what might be the most captivating and unique voice since Heath Ledger’s Joker. Guttural and commanding. And his look. Unlike the Nosferatu we know, his is a mangled and clearly otherworldly creature. Eggers leans into the verisimilitude of the time and location, which adds an element of realism to balance out the fantasy.
But with some time to reflect, as strong as the performances are, Lily-Rose Depp’s performance as Ellen is brutal, sexual, and must have taken an extreme level of commitment. Moving between calm and hysterical was tiring to watch let alone perform. She is ultimately the protagonist, despite all the men fussing around her.
The Lighthouse left me confused back in 2020. Ultimately I don’t think I picked up what Eggers was putting down, and didn’t appreciate it as others did. This time however, I’m onboard. Nosferatu is an excellent gothic horror retelling of a classic. I’m looking forward to trying Eggers’ other films now.
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