Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
Robert Eggers' Nosferatu is a visually sumptuous and atmospherically dense reimagining of the 1922 Murnau classic, elevated considerably by Bill Skarsgård's genuinely unsettling Count Orlok and Lily-Rose Depp's committed, physically demanding performance as Ellen. The cinematography by Jarin Blaschke is exceptional — desaturated, shadow-drenched, and meticulously composed, earning a strong mark. The acting across the board is a standout, with Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson all delivering memorable work. However, as a remake of an already well-known story (itself an adaptation of Dracula), the Novelty is inherently constrained — Eggers brings his unmistakable austere craft but the narrative bones are deeply familiar. The plot, while handsomely executed, is beholden to a century-old structure that limits dramatic surprise. The ending, while atmospherically consistent, leans into a somewhat expected sacrificial resolution that doesn't fully transcend the source material's conclusion.