With ‘Nosferatu, a symphony of horror’, FW Murnau has not only created one of the greatest films of German cinema, but also one of the best vampire films of all time. The silent film classic impresses with its incredibly dense atmosphere of the unfathomable, while Max Schreck delivers one of the most memorable bloodsucker performances ever. In short: if you are interested in movies, you must see ‘Nosferatu’ from 1922.
The expectations that Werner Herzog (“Aguirre, the Wrath of God”) faced when he decided to produce “Nosferatu – Phantom of the Night” in the 1970s were high. The film can probably be described as a remake, but it also sees itself as a tribute to Murnau’s milestone – and is also an absolute highlight of vampire cinema.
Haven’t you seen “Nosferatu, Phantom of the Night” yet? Then you can catch up with Arte today, November 29 at 11:25 PM. If today’s TV broadcast is too late for you, you can also switch to Paramount+. The vampire film starring Klaus Kinski (“Fitzcarraldo”) as Count Dracula is currently available for subscription there.
That’s what Nosferatu – Phantom of the Night is all about
In the mid-19th century, Jonathan Harker (Bruno Ganz) and his wife Lucy (Isabelle Adjani) live in the idyllic Hanseatic town of Wismar. One day, Jonathan is assigned to travel to distant Transylvania to negotiate the sale of his house with Count Dracula (Klaus Kinski), who lives there. Along the way he meets many locals who behave strangely scared.
Although he is advised against continuing the journey, Jonathan soon arrives at Dracula’s estate. The Count himself did not hesitate long and signed the contract when he glimpsed a photo of Lucy. That same night, the vampire bites Jonathan and travels by ship in a coffin to Wismar to meet the woman he is so fascinated by. Meanwhile, the already transforming husband does everything he can to warn Lucy.
One of the best vampire films
For the FILMSTARTS community, the largest German site for films and series, “Nosferatu – Phantom of the Night” is one of the best vampire films of all time. The scary horror film managed to secure a strong sixth place in the rankings, leaving behind “Blade”, “So dark die Nacht”, “Let Me In” and “Dracula” with Bela Lugosi, which was released in 1931.
What sets Werner Herzog’s ‘Nosferatu’ apart is the sheer climate of menace. The German cult director not only relies on sometimes almost faithfully imitating many scenes from Murnau’s original, but also relies heavily on the hallucinatory staging that is symptomatic for him. ‘Nosferatu – Phantom of the Night’ is a terrifying, sleepy viewing experience in which the unbelievable finds its way into our reality – and all boundaries between being and non-being on a visual level threaten to slowly fade away.
The fact that “Nosferatu” gets under your skin so wonderfully is not least thanks to Klaus Kinski. While Murnau’s Count Orlock in the 1920s was an insect-like creature almost deprived of all vitality, Kinski’s Dracula turns out to be an undead trapped in paralyzing melancholy. His encounter with Lucy stirs up feelings he thought were long buried – giving this legendary figure an even more, deeply tortured dimension in Duke’s hands.
Author: Pascal Reis
Source : Film Starts
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
