Review of Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) by Steve M — 16 Feb 2011

It is a sad truth that practically all Dracula films completely miss the point of the original material. Count Dracula is not some abhorent monster but a tragic figure condemned to exist as a twilight figure between life and death. When FW Murnau filmed his version of Nosferatu he created an expressionist masterpiece that is still worth watching today. What must have seemed frightening then is now little more than a curiosity but the human tragedy behind the story is always palpable.

What Werner Herzog did with his remake of the classic is to take both the content and structure of the original to create a modern expressionist version of the story. Although he is very fatihful to the Murnau film some of the 'flaws' from he original are now ironed out, for instance the names are back to those in the book and there are no sunlight shadows when Dracula walks across the town at night. Klaus Kinski, Bruno Ganz and Isabelle Adjani are all outstanding in their roles and the whole atmosphere seems to improve on the original.

I watched this as a double bill with the Murnau version first and the Herzog version afterwards. I think the latter improves on the original but this may be partly due to my dislike of the techno soundtrack on the Murnau DVD.

The third in this series would of course be Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula version with a great Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins but a rather poorly cast Keanu Reeves...

So here is my verdict: Watch this unhurried and in context with the original and if you don't expect action or horror but seek great acting and style you shall find your rewards...