Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror

Maybe there was a good idea to make a sound update of Nosferatu in the tinted monochrome style of the original but the execution is truly dreadful.

The acting is about what you might expect from a high school play. Apparently it was shot on empty sets and the backgrounds were added later. They look like AI images generated from screengrabs from the 1922 original.

Doug Jones has just a few scenes as the vampire, behind very heavy makeup. He brings the only point of interest but it's not enough to justify slogging through this sleepwalking snoozefest.

There are no real scares in this alleged horror film and it adds nothing to the original.

Maybe not a very kind word to use, but this was pretty pathetic. Two stars only because Doug Jones is always great - but there was really very little he was called upon to do.

Not a respectful tribute to Dracula OR Nosferatu. It omits plot points that would make it make sense. The writing is horrendous. How does a German in Germany address a married german woman as Fraulein Hutter? Can't believe I wasted 92 minutes on this. Trash.

I guess it's supposed to be cool that they superimposed new digital content onto old backgrounds, but it just looks like somebody was playing around in iMovie. I cannot overstate how bad this movie was.

I've read a couple of bad reviews on this, and I feel like they don't get the aesthetics the director was going for. Everything in this screamed as an homage to the original, but with updated flair. Was the dialogue over the top, yes, but wasn't the dialogue cards in the original, also yes! The shots were highly stylized black and white and the use of red was well placed.

The original left us viewers with questions and surmising. This one takes a stronger stance and feels like it fills in the gaps and fleshes out these characters. It elevates it from the vaudeville feeling silent original to a more modern piece that highlights the original story.

It's definitely worth a watch. Just keep in mind that it is an aesthetic- much like Wes Anderson films; might not be for everyone, but dang it's a piece of art!

And besides everything, it's DOUG JONES! He's a legend and anything he is in, is worth a look-see. Trust me!

Review of Nosferatu.

A Sinister Homage Rating: 7/10

The 2024 Nosferatu film, starring the inimitable Doug Jones as Count Orlok, offers a stylish and visually striking reimagining of the 1922 classic. With a graphic novel-inspired aesthetic akin to Sin City, the film leans heavily into its moody, stylized visuals, creating an atmosphere that feels both fresh and nostalgic.

Doug Jones, a master of physical acting, perfectly channels Max Schreck's original performance, capturing the eerie, unsettling presence that made the character iconic. The modern makeup effects pay faithful homage to Orlok's original design, updating it with subtle enhancements that emphasize his grotesque charm without losing the character's vintage horror appeal. Jones' movements and expressions are mesmerizing, making him a worthy successor to Schreck's legacy.

The narrative, while not groundbreaking, stays true to the tone and spirit of the original, offering a faithful tribute rather than an outright reimagining. The Director clearly crafted the film with reverence, focusing on evoking the same primal unease the 1922 film instilled in audiences nearly a century ago.

While some critics have dismissed the film for its perceived lack of innovation, it's important to watch it for what it is: an homage. As a modern love letter to one of horror's most enduring films, it succeeds admirably. The graphic novel-inspired visuals may not be to everyone's taste, but they create a distinctive look that sets this Nosferatu apart from more traditional horror films.

In the end, this Nosferatu isn't trying to reinvent the wheel-it's a celebration of its cinematic roots, elevated by Doug Jones' haunting performance and a uniquely stylized visual approach. For fans of the original or those who appreciate atmospheric, graphic novel-inspired horror, it's worth a watch. Just embrace it for what it is, and you'll find it to be a perfectly fine (and at times chilling) homage.

I was amongst the first to see a screening of this movie and I thought it was very good. The acting was good and everything thing about it I enjoyed. I thought it was an enhanced version of the original with all the same scares but modernized. I think they perfectly accomplished what they wanted to. I felt like the the enhanced original scenes were fantastic. Maybe it was because it was viewed different on the big screen. Too bad it wasn't more widely released in the theaters. The added dialogue was good. I thought the acting was good. I thought Doug Jones as Orlok was fantastic. He is truly a master of that type of role. His movements tell a story with no words and is terrific. He should have been Orlok in the Eggers film. He would have made it so much better. Watch this movie for what it is and you will enjoy it while rediscovering the original greatness.