Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
The mysterious Count Orlok summons a happily married real estate agent to his castle, located up in the Transylvanian mountains, to finalise a terrifying deal.
Nosferatu is a landmark of cinema history and one of the most distinctive horror films ever made. Its cinematography is genuinely exceptional — Murnau's expressionist shadows, distorted angles, and iconic imagery of Max Schreck's Orlok remain haunting and influential over a century later, earning a clear 4. Novelty is equally high: this is the originating template for vampire cinema, with a wholly singular visual language and atmosphere that no subsequent film has replicated exactly. The acting, constrained by silent-film conventions, is expressive but uneven — Schreck is iconic while supporting performances are more theatrical and dated, landing at 3. The plot is relatively thin and episodic even by the standards of its era, serviceable but not particularly sophisticated. The ending, while effective and memorable in its use of sunlight as vampire-killer, is abrupt and slightly underdeveloped by modern dramatic standards.