Night 3: ‘Nosferatu, the Vampyre’ (1979)
This is part of the ‘31 Nights of Horror Classics’ series, which I’ll be doing for Halloween 2017. Every night of this month, I’ll be watching a horror film made before the 90s and I’ll be posting a short review here.
Can a horror film be beautiful? In Nosferatu, the Vampyre, the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
You know the story: loosely based on Bran Stoker’s Dracula, and F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, filmmaker Werner Herzog retells the story of the infamous Count Dracula and his love for a young woman, whom will ultimately lead him to his doom.
It’s been years since I first saw Murnau’s Nosferatu, one of the most well-known examples of German Expressionism. I do regret not watching it right before plunging into Herzog’s version, so I will have to base my appraisal on the few memories I have of that movie. What I can say about it is that although I can see shades of Murnau’s work in this film, I must say Herzog’s version still feels fresh and it stands on its own.
Herzog’s documentary style of filmmaking permeates every frame. He takes his time showing us the beautiful landscapes, the set pieces, and even the characters’ actions, in a way most contemporary horror films do not. It’s refreshing, beautiful, and also oddly fitting.
The way Herzog shoots the gypsies, the roads, the actions… almost makes you feel like you are watching an odd supernatural documentary. It’s not the typical way in which period pieces like these are filmed. This helps create an atmosphere that places the movie in a timeless zone. It feels simultaneously too modern in its clinical approach, and too old, in the way the characters speak and interact.
I also found the three main characters –Dracula, Lucy and Johnathan- fascinating! There is a duality to each of them that keeps you interested in their development. The Count is a forlorn creature, yearning for love; but also a bloodthirsty and menacing monster that can hardly control his impulses. Lucy starts as a weak, delicate damsel in distress, but soon takes the reign of her destiny, her husband’s and the entire city’s in her hands. Her transformation into a heroine is delightful to watch! And, lastly, Johnathan, whom goes from a strong and active hero to a shadow himself and then…well, I’ll leave that to you to discover it on your own!
There is also a very interesting subplot regarding a plague that enters the city with the Count and ends up ravaging the entire city. This lends itself to some interesting analysis regarding the role of Lucy, who defeats it in apparent passivity, while also embodying the symbols of nature –in her last scene, her bed is covered with leaves and flowers- and disruptive femininity –she sacrifices herself after being disregarded by male authorities.
It is surprising how layered the movie can be, while still being a legitimately scary film. Some of the scenes are absolutely haunting! Additionally, the undeniable beauty of every frame is also laced with masterfully built tension.
If there is a downside to the film, is that at times some of the choices in style and performance seem to clash with each other. Sometimes the film verges on being too overly dramatic, and at other times there is an overall detachment that makes it feel completely void of dramatism. It goes from one extreme to the other, and it can give you a little bit of whiplash.
Another point that I found a little troubling is the “twist” ending. Although it’s a fun addition, it could be seen as an unnecessary element that nullifies Lucy’s sacrifice. However, another possible interpretation is that Death is, ultimately, an impossible force to defeat. In any case, at least at first, it does seem to weaken Lucy’s well-earned role.
On a fun note, I couldn’t stop comparing Bruno Ganz to Javier Bardem throughout the film! Perhaps it’s me, but the similarity is uncanny. I searched him up on IMDb and, to my surprise, they’ve actually been together in a film called The Counselor (2013). Now I’ll just have to add it to my must-watch list!
All in all, Nosferatu is a very artistic take on the horror genre that is worth the watch if solely for the amazing cinematography and multiple layers of meaning.
Grade: 7/10 — Beautiful and eerie.
Scare Factor: some spine-chilling frames.
Gore/Violence: none.
Nudity/Sexual Situations: none.
Previous Night: ‘Les Diaboliques’ (55)
Next up: ‘They Live’ (88)
