Nosferatu 2025

Nosferatu

A Dreary, Deathly, and Methodical Reimagining

★★★½☆

A handsome, visually striking production that feels refreshingly modern yet deathly faithful.

Directed by the visionary Robert Eggers, Nosferatu is the latest adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic tale. Decades removed from the versions by Coppola, Herzog, and Murnau, Eggers offers an energetic take that drains the lush gothic opera of the past in favor of a morbid, joyless, and deathly palette. It is a production that favors the chaos of a period plague—rampant rats, black blood, and decaying bodies lining the cobblestone streets.

"Eggers drains the film of most of the color palette, creating a dreary, morbid, joyless, deathly affair... it hearkens back to Isabelle Adjani's disturbing performance in Possession."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Vampire Chronicles

• Director: Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Northman)
• Count Orlok: Bill Skarsgård
• Ellen Hutter: Lily-Rose Depp
• Thomas Hutter: Nicholas Hoult
• Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke

Modernized Gender Politics

While the film is faithful to the original material almost to a fault, it distinguishes itself by leaning into the gender politics and sexual dynamics of the period setting. Lily-Rose Depp turns in an unhinged, standout performance, while Bill Skarsgård provides a creepy and disturbing title character. The result is a film that feels vital and urgent, adding a strong, eerie atmosphere to the long canon of Dracula adaptations.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Skarsgård's Transformation: Bill Skarsgård reportedly spent six hours in the makeup chair daily and worked with an opera singer to lower his voice by an octave.
• Eggers' Obsession: Robert Eggers has called Nosferatu his dream project, having directed a stage play of the story in his senior year of high school.
• The Herzog Link: Eggers utilized several filming locations in the Czech Republic that echoed the atmosphere of Werner Herzog's 1979 version.

✅ Pros

• Breathtakingly eerie atmosphere and morbid production design.
• Powerful, "unhinged" performances from Depp and Skarsgård.
• Refreshing focus on the sexual dynamics and gender politics of the era.

❌ Cons

• Faithful to the original beats almost to a fault.
• Dreary and joyless tone may be too oppressive for some.

🏆 Final Verdict

A strong and visually striking addition to the vampire canon. While the tale is familiar, the unique variances and disturbing visuals make Nosferatu feel like a vital piece of modern horror cinema.

View original review on Letterboxd