Review of Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) by Jessi T — 30 Sep 2011
Like any of Herzog's narrative films, Nosferatu is a bit intimidating due to the dense narrative, handled as a super slow-burn film. Just like any of Herzog's films, however, Nosferatu is incredibly rewarding and well worth it if you're able to stick with the entirety of the film.
There have been a number of remakes of the Dracula story through the years, and this is a look at one of the most famous and one of the first--another German film by the same name, Nosferatu (1922). The original is steeped in atmosphere by way of German expressionism and seems like it would make a poor transition to color and sound. Herzog accommodates this by making a nearly silent movie in his own right--though there is dialogue throughout, you could watch this entire film relying on only visuals and get as much out of the story. Visually, this movie is stunning.
Klaus Kinski plays Nosferatu such as to make Max Shreck proud, surely. The entire atmosphere is disconcerting and slightly surreal and Herzog makes a perfect place-setting for this gothic horror tale amidst the onset of plague, bringing the horror of vampirism and losing ones self subtly into more relevant, 21st century terms of disease and contagion.
A bit slow, incredibly beautiful, and well worth a watch for Klaus Kinski alone.
This review of Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) was written by Jessi T on 30 Sep 2011.
Nosferatu the Vampyre has generally received very positive reviews.
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