1922 horror film Nosferatu remains a remarkable silent-era masterpiece, combining creepy practical effects, a sinisterly ominous score, and frighteningly unsettling photography to deliver an impactful set of chills that still scar today.
As perhaps the most influential horror film ever made, this immortal Dracula adaptation demonstrates some of the earliest pioneering expressions of the medium. Almost a century later, its infamous filmmaking techniques, visual motives, and cinematic style continue to set a spooky precedent, forming the foundational template for modern horror today.
Plotwise, Nosferatu largely follows the premise of Bram Stoker's classic vampiric tale, in which estate agent Hutter travels to Transylvania to secure living accommodations for Count Orlok. As events unravel, Hutter soon exposes a disturbing nocturnal truth, while savagely behind the scenes, a deadly plague wreaks havoc on an unsuspecting population.
More so than any other element, the scariest star attraction is undoubtedly our nightmarish long-nailed, sharp-toothed antagonist. Played to chilling perfection by Schreck, it's a suspenseful performance packed with spine-chilling terror, whose spookily hair-raising appearance makes for a deeply unsettling watch.
What makes the monster so enduring, however, is Murnau's distinct style of filmmaking. From subtly freakish effects delivering slow-burning shivers and darkly sinister use of shadow to the starkly inescapable camera shots exposing Dracula's hideous form, these techniques combined elevate an already malevolent monster into something altogether more nightmarish.
With its dread orchestral score, terrifying make-up effects, and unnerving cinematography, the 1922 horror movie Nosferatu still resonates today as a deeply disturbing adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
In the mood for more nerve-splitting terror? Check out our review of Clive Barker's Hellraiser.
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