Review of Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) by Maggie B — 27 Oct 2014

This is a horror films. If you expectNosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979).

This is a horror film. With the genre of horror having been corrupted, you have to dig down in the film history to look what horror films are about. What we are served today is scary music with scary make-up and loud sounds and sudden scary visuals. Thus making the movie a scary movie- not a horror one. Be it a cute baby or scary ghost- anyone suddenly screaming 'AAGGHHHH' and springing right on the screen IS going to be scary.

Thus Werner Herzog's Nosferatu, a remake of F.W. Murnau's classic 1922 silent horror-fest Nosferatu, classifies as a horror film. Set in the 19th Century, the film revolves around Count Dracula of Transylvania. The Count's need and want to consume the good and spread the evil can ring a bell across various historical aspects.

Having spoken ill of the current horror-genre, to my dismay, even the vampire-genre has been infected. I did not dislike any current vampire-movie until I saw this particular movie. Vampires are not cool dudes who are bored with life. I am not basing the vampire-genre solely on the Twilight series though. I am yet to see Jim Jarmusch's ' Only Lovers Left Alive'. But to generalise the vampires of the 21st Century- there are just lame swaggers.

One has to see this movie for the make-up. Nothing extravagant but powerful enough to highlight the characters in the movie. Make-up done on Count Dracula is obviously great and appropriate but that done on Lucy Harker is also subtle but shows the frail lady who one assumes to be weak.

Special shout goes to my now favourite 'actor in negative role' Klaus Kinski. He doesn't yell or shout so much in the films. Though the way he stealthily approaches victims and disappears is not only a fabulous directorial feat but also showcases Klaus's acting skills. His cold eyes sends tremors down your spine- his vicious dialogues will scare you for a fortnight.

Finally the director- Werner Herzog. I haven't seen the original version so I do not know which one is better but this movie is an amazing feat in itself. The way the director has used lights is great. The way every character moves out into the dark only to reappear in the spot-light to deliver the dialogue raises the feeling of suspense. You always wonder from where next would Count Dracula emerge from next- thus making every other scene a min-climax. The way his panoramic shots show 'Transylvania' makes you think that 'I would love to visit it but when Count Dracula is not around'. Also the end- I don't know whether he has borrowed it from the original movie but it is like you expect it but don't want to see.

Thus Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht (1979) is a proper vampire-horror movie. It doesn't give you nightmares (at least I hope it doesn't) but gives you the chills. It tells you to be wary of vampires- not fall in love with them. It serves as guide to vampire genre but is misread by current directors. It's a movie you have to see. You may like it but there is a possibility you may not because it is not a movie that sends your heartbeats up in an instant- but rather raises them gradually. One should watch it to understand vampires, one should watch it to understand horror films.