Nosferatu

Remaking a classic like the 1922 Nosferatu is no small feat, and this version doesn’t shy away from taking liberties.

Starting with the cast, the performances were as varied as Nosferatu’s nocturnal victims. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, bless his heart, wrestled with a messy accent that felt like it was stalking the wrong shadows. While he looked the part, his emotional depth never quite broke through, leaving some scenes feeling flat.

Lily-Rose Depp, on the other hand, owned her role with a performance so intense it could resurrect the undead. Her possession scenes were a masterclass in haunting. Every moment she was on screen was a reminder of her growing power as an actor. Originally, Anya Taylor-Joy was set to play this role, and while we’d have undoubtedly been impressed by her too, Depp proved she didn’t just fill the shoes — she glamoured them.

Willem Dafoe? An absolute standout. This industry veteran injected every scene with the energy and enthusiasm the film’s brooding aesthetic required. His performance was like the garlic to Taylor-Johnson’s undead delivery: vital.

And then there’s Bill Skarsgård, our Count Orlok. The man practically oozes creepiness. His chilling voice and unnerving presence doubled down on the horror, and boy, did he go full vamp. If this performance doesn’t cement him as Hollywood’s go-to supernatural villain, nothing will.

The camera work? Simply chef’s kiss. Pan shots that elegantly slithered away from characters, the unsettling use of shadowy corners, and the interplay between color and the black-and-white filter to delineate realms—every frame was dripping with atmospheric dread.

However, Nosferatu’s new design left much to be desired. The prosthetics—while well-crafted—lacked a distinctive flair in an era oversaturated with innovative creature effects. And let’s talk about that moustache. Did he raid a 1920s barber mid-haunting? A creative miss that felt more like a misplaced comedy gag than an homage.

Fun fact to sprinkle into your nightmares: the exteriors for Count Orlok’s castle were filmed at Hunedoara Castle in Transylvania, also known as Corvin Castle. Not just your average medieval fortress, this castle was once the prison of Vlad the Impaler himself. So, if you’ve got a death wish or a love for gothic aesthetics, go ahead and book a ticket.

In a way, it feels like today’s filmmakers are finally unshackled from the prudish restrictions of the past. Vampires, with all their seductive menace, have always danced on the edge of taboo. Now, in 2024, films like this embrace the raw, unfiltered, and yes, sexually charged nature of the lore.

Despite its occasional fangs-out flaws, the film’s romantic core shines. This is, after all, a twisted love story—one that might even have you siding with the Count by the end. The interplay of obsession, possession, and forbidden affection breathes life (or death?) into this adaptation.

Nosferatu starts the new year with a bite. While not without its shortcomings, it’s a creepy, campy, and unexpectedly romantic reimagining of a classic. Here’s hoping for a sequel—and maybe Nicholas Hoult stepping in to carry the torch (or stake) forward. Mark your calendars for New Year’s Day and get ready to sink your teeth into this twisted tale.