Nosferatu (2024)

This movie was one of three movies that has remained at the top of my must watch list for 2024.  Obviously, this was mostly due to the fact that I am a huge Bill Skarsgard fan (of course if you’re reading this you probably already know that), but also quite obvious is the fact that I am a huge horror movie fan, of course.

Nosferatu 2024 is without a question one of the finest remakes I have ever had the pleasure of viewing.  It is certainly the best remake I have ever viewed in a theater and for the last time THE CROW 2024 is NOT A REMAKE.  

I digress …

Nosferatu 2024 is the type of treatment I not only welcome, but expect when it comes to a remake.  Almost everything about this movie points back to the original 1922 film.  It truly takes more than the names of the characters to make a movie a remake.  The base story needs to be the same as its source material: meaning there will be a parallel with its beginning, middle, and end.  I don’t mean paralleled in just microdoses, but the plot and story arch must essentially mirror the original.  If you change the beginning, middle, and end completely it is no longer a remake – it just becomes a brand-new story. 

Well, Eggers kept all of the principal elements from the original and embellished new details on a lot of the parts that the original film didn’t explore.  We get to know some of the other characters a little better in this interpretation and his artistic vision and style bled into the story from start to finish without completely altering the plot.  This movie parallels the original film and largely mirrors it; at the same time, Eggers manages to create a story all its own.  That is magic if you ask me. 
How can you have two entirely different styles, yet have the end product feel like the same movie?  It makes me think of a campfire story being told by different narrators.   It's the same story being told with slight variations.
The biggest variations in this come from the addition of the B-plot elements but the overall look of Count Orlok is certainly a brand new design. 
Man, talk about a polarizing topic.  People either love this version of Orlok or they hate it; I haven’t read many unbothered or in between comments.  As far as B-plots go, I am not a fan and consider them unnecessary fluff.  If you’re telling your story well, you won’t need to add any of that, BUT if it's used then I’d say it needs to be in direct regard to your main character(s) not the side characters.  Count Orlok’s story alone would have been far more acceptable and interesting to explore than Eggers decision to add the extra stuff regarding the Harding’s and the town/village people.  It didn’t bother me or remove me too much, but it certainly changed the story arc and added unnecessary run time.  It’s just a minor complaint from me with this one because it didn’t change how I feel about the film.  Some of the movies I rank the highest have a few moments that make me scratch my head as to why the director decided to include them.  But in this case, it's all good!

The cinematography, the acting, the score, the set pieces, the wardrobe, the Fx, THE RATS, the makeup, and more than anything else, COUNT ORLOK made for the absolutely most breathtaking cinematic experience.   I would have liked at least ten or more minutes longer screentime for Count Orlok, because I really hungered for more. 
The first act was on point.  It kept my interest, piqued my curiosity, and sucked me in.  The second act continued to seduce me with the visuals and titillated the vampire loving sicko inside of me.  The third act became a little laborious for me and Lily-Rose Depp made me unravel at the seems in discomfort a few times.  It was too much.  It was either overacting or overdirecting OR both.  This is a case of less IS more.  This wasn’t a stage play, and we didn’t need overemoting because the story was developing in a way that it spoke quite frankly and very clearly what it was wanting its audience to know.  The final act brought an ending similar to the original film, but the delivery was much more visceral and darker.  I won’t lie though; the original makes me cry.  Count Orlok possessed a much more empathetic response from me in the original.  I am still unpacking that, but I am pretty sure it’s because he didn’t seem as dark and mean as the new Count.

I do want to disclose that I am not a Robert Eggers fangirl or orbiter, so this review is honest and sincere.  I went into this movie thinking it would disappoint me, and I honestly was a little bittersweet about the whole situation.

1. This would be the last Bill Skarsgard movie for 2024.
2. I love the original Nosferatu (1922). Last year I finally went old school and watched the original (obviously late to the game).  I was worried I had warmed up to a classic style vampire, shed my Chris Sarandon vampire bias, and Eggers would screw it up.  Reluctance is extremely bitter and not very sweet. Ha!
3. It was Christmas Day.
4. It was the final horror movie of the year and BILL.
5. Would the theater have my damn popcorn tin!? (They didn’t! I had to go to another theater #Regal to get one after the movie was over and they saved the day!)

So, have you seen the movie?  What did YOU think?  <3

I give Nosferatu 2024 five sweet little rats.  
#nosferatu2024

#billskarsgard

#willemdefoe

#countorlok