"Nosferatu " (1922 movie)- Review

Directed by: F. W. Murnau
Released: 1922
Original title: Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens
Country: Germany

Genres: Horror

Main cast: Max Schrek, Gustov von Wangenhem, Greta Schröder, Alexander Granach, Ruth Landshoff, Georg H. Schnell, Gustav Botz, John Gottowt, Wolfgang Heinz, Max Nemetz

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

In the present time, horror movies like ''Friday the 13th'', ''I Know What You Did Last Summer'' and the wonderful ''Scream'' films are full of violence and blood. And many vampire movies (even the romantic ''Twilight'') contain lots of violence, and sometimes get boring. But let us look back in the 1920s, and see the film ''Nosferatu''. ''Nosferatu'' is a  vampire horror film, and this may not actually scare us as much as the horror film do today, but however, it will remain in our memories because it is so artistic and wonderful.

Have you read Bram Stoker's novel ''Dracula''? If you have read it, you must remember being frightened while reading it. I remember reading it when I was eight or nine years old, and though I couldn't understand many of the things, I remember being amazed and frightened while reading it. After that I have read it several more times, and each time the brilliant, masterpiece novel haunted me as much as it did when I read it for the first time.

''Nosferatu'' is a 1922 movie, based on Bram Stoker's ''Dracula'' (and it is the earliest film based on ''Dracula"). The studio could not obtain the rights for the novel, so the names of all the characters were changed in the film. 

The film has many mentionable differences from the wonderful novel, but let's discuss that later. The story is about Thomas and Ellen Hutter, a young couple who live a happy life. Things change when Thomas's employer Knock, a rather strange man, informs Thomas that Count Orlok of Transylvania would like to buy a house. Leaving Ellen Hutter with some friends, Thomas starts his journey to Transylvania. Overnight, he stays in an inn, where people become scared when he mentions Count Orlok's name. 

The next day, Thomas resumes his journey to Transylvania, and as nightfall comes near, the coachman refuses to take him any further. He finds another coach, and reaches Count Orlok's castle.

Thomas find Count Orlok a strange man. He comes to suspect Orlok as Nosferatu, The Bird of Death (vampire) after several terrifying incidences. He somehow manages to escape Count Orlok's castle.

Thomas is returning home. And meanwhile, Count Orlok is coming to Wiesborg, lying in a coffin. He successfully kills the entire crew and upon arriving in Wiesburg, his arrival spreads plague.. Many people become sick with plague and terrified...

And then Ellen finds something in the book about vampires which could destroy Orlok.



One of the most wonderful thing about Nosferatu is the performance of Max Schrek, who, as Count Orlok looks terrifying in his makeup. His long fingernails and the makeup effects easily makes him look really terrifying. He looks creepier than Gary Oldman does in the 1992 movie "Bram Stoker's Dracula". This is easily the most memorable role of Max Schrek.

Knock is another creepy character. Based on Dracula's character Renfield, Knock is initially presented as Hutter's employer, and later gets insane and is locked up. Alexander Granach plays his role quite well!

The entire film is narrated from the diary of Johann Cavallius, a historian.

''Nosferatu'' doesn't contain the sudden surprises that modern horror movie does. Instead, in nature it is very mild compared to present horror films. Perhaps the only scene where blood is shown is when Thomas Hutter cuts his thumb while dinner, and Orlok tries to suck the blood away (Thomas removes his hand). And that scene is also mild. 

The excellence of this film lies in every scene of the film. Just look at the shadows that the film uses. The uses of shadows is probably among the most artistic elements of this film. Look at the shadow of Count Orlok climbing the staircases.

The scene where Orlok is seen standing by the window is, according to me, another memorable scene in this film. As I've mentioned, the brilliance of this film is visible in every single scenes. From the early scenes, such as a wonderful scene when Thomas gifts Ellen flowers, to the last scenes, it gives us a wonderful, sometimes haunting, experience.

I found another scene very interesting, when Professor Bulwer introduces his students to different carnivores plants.

There are many mentionable differences from the novel. The characters of John Seward, Professor Abraham van Helsing, Arthur Holmwood, Lucy Westenra are important supporting character in the novel ''Dracula''. Whereas in ''Nosferatu'', Professor Sievers (Dr. John Seward in the novel), Professor Bulwer (Professor van Helsing in the novel), Harding (Arthur Holmwood in the novel), Annie (Lucy Westenra in the novel) are simply presented as minor supporting characters. But however, it doesn't affect the movie at all. In spite of the mentionable differences from the novel, major storyline is based on ''Dracula''.

This film is certainly a classic, and a great artistic and sophisticated film in the horror genre. This great movie impresses us and well, at some parts, scares us; in short, ''Nosferatu'' is a masterpiece.

4 out of 5!