Nosferatu (2024) - Blu-ray Evaluation

      Nosferatu, 2024.

      Directed by Robert Eggers.

      Featuring Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, and Willem Dafoe.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Robert Eggers’ contemporary horror film Nosferatu is released on Blu-ray with a solid collection of extras and a code for a digital copy. It’s definitely a worthwhile addition for fans.

      I have always perceived director/writer Robert Eggers as the “anti-Wes Anderson.” While Anderson’s films tend to be light-hearted and whimsical, Eggers’ works are heavy, dark constructs that feel as if they’re weighing me down during viewing.

      This is not meant as a criticism, of course. There’s a broad spectrum of films available, and I enjoy a variety of genres. A fitting way to compare Eggers and Anderson might be salt versus sweet, illustrating how those elements can complement one another. Who’s up for a double feature of Nosferatu and The Royal Tenenbaums?

      Now, moving on, Eggers’ latest film is yet another remarkable achievement, a remake of the 1922 silent film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, which was loosely based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. Though that book has entered the public domain, I appreciate Eggers’ effort to shape a horror film that is not confined to the common perceptions of Dracula.

      Set in 1838, Nosferatu chronicles the struggles of Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) and Thomas Hunter (Nicholas Hoult), a recently married couple residing in Wisburg, Germany. Eager to please his employer, Herr Knock (Simon McBurney), Thomas accepts a task to travel to Transylvania and finalize the sale of an old mansion in Wisburg to a figure known as Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård).

      Orlok, naturally, is an eerie, shadowy figure with a supernatural influence on Thomas. The young man manages to flee, but Orlok embarks for Wisburg in his coffin, transported on a ship whose crew is also unknowingly carrying plague rats.

      Meanwhile, Ellen suffers from seizures and sleepwalking due to a psychic connection she unintentionally forged with Orlok in her youth. Her doctor, unable to find a remedy for her condition, seeks the counsel of his former mentor, Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz (Willem Dafoe), who possesses extensive knowledge of Nosferatu’s mythology. As the plague spreads in Wisburg and Orlok begins to manipulate Herr Knock, Thomas and his friend Friedrich (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) collaborate with von Franz to devise a plan to eliminate the vampire for good.

      Though I'm not particularly fond of horror films, and I'm unsure how often I'll revisit this one, Nosferatu certainly deserves the praise it has garnered, including four Academy Award nominations, albeit in technical categories. It stands as a commendable update to F.W. Murnau’s Expressionist masterpiece.

      The Blu-ray release includes a code for a digital copy and an impressive collection of extras, such as an extended cut of the film that adds four minutes to its length. This additional footage is also presented in the form of three deleted scenes.

      Among the bonus features is a commentary track featuring Eggers, which effectively explores the filmmaking process. I always appreciate talented directors with a clear artistic vision who enjoy discussing their craft, much like Eggers.

      Universal has also included a making-of documentary divided into six segments totaling about 38 minutes. The main takeaway is Eggers’ efforts to capture as much on camera as possible, though digital effects were necessary for several scenes.

      I look forward to seeing what Eggers will create next.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook