I've actually seen a cut of the original Nosferatu and it aged surprisingly well, particularly the horror. There's this one very darkly-lit shot of Nosferatu feeding and it's honestly one of the eeriest and creepiest shots I've seen in a film.
All the talent involved in this are promising so here's hoping.
I was perfectly content to wait to view this at home, but a friend invited me out to see it, so I did.
I think it would be better viewed at home with subtitles so you don't miss any of the dialogue.
It's good, but I honestly didn't care for the new design of Nosferatu [SPOILER - highlight to read]: I think I get that they were going for the actual Vlad the Impaler look, but to me I just kept thinking of Sasha Baron Cohen as Borat, lol
I actually watched the 1922 version right before going out to see this and it's basically the exact same story without much alteration, honestly. But the stakes aren't very well established, so I think an opening crawl or narration might have been beneficial, but I get that show-don't-tell is generally the preference.
It's fine. I've generally liked most of Robert Eggers movies, but I haven't had much desire to ever watch them again. It's hard to put my finger on exactly why. Maybe because they seem kind of one-note? Hm..
Watched this last Friday night with a buddy, and we both have seen The Lighthouse and The Northman by Eggers, I've only seen clips and the ending of The Witch.
Everything technical facet of the movie was beautiful: the score, the cinematography, visual effects, makeup, production and set design, all of it top-notch, as usual. The only problem is the one you mentioned Leech: sound effects are an A+, with the exception of the dialogue. Could've been my theater, but had a hard time hearing what Dafoe and Skargard were saying sometimes. Especially Dafoe, as he was speaking frantically sometimes.
Also, Eggers gets the best performances possible out of his cast: I thought Bill Skargard put another solid notch on makeup and prosthetic-laden character role belt, Nicolas Hoult was excellent - really sold the terror - as German Jonathan Harker, but Lily Rose-Depp should get some award season attention. She carried the scenes she was in going mad at Orlok's impending arrival, just stole the show.
My biggest gripe with the movie and also my only disagreement with you Leech is [SPOILER - highlight to read]: that there wasn't enough of Count Orlok in the movie. I know, I know, you only give your audience so much exposure to the villain or it feels like a ScyFy original movie, but Skargard was a highlight for me, and I went in blind on how he would look and sound, so I wanted more of him. I thought the new take on his look was horrifying, I had no clue going in, as I only saw the photos of the old Orlok from 1922's original Nosferatu. The mustache, the 7-foot tall gaunt giant build, the voice, the eyes, and the fact that Eggers always obscures the audience's view of him until the sunlight hits him at the end of the movie...just masterclass.
No worries though Leech, as every other point about the movie I tend to agree with you on. Could it be the best flick of '24? Maybe, I'd consider it one of them, but I saw hardly anything from last year. Is it the best vampire movie and horror movie and period piece of all-time? No, no, and no; it's up there, but it doesn't meet the hype level from cinephiles that it had going for it before I saw it IMO. Is Eggers a "must-see" director for me? Yes, but The Northman was my best movie of 2022, and I don't know which I'd take between Nosferatu and The Lighthouse. All of his movies have his signature styles in them (haven't rewatched any of them like you said, Leech), but that is cool, I'll always get solid acting perfomances, the highest of production values, and a unique take on whatever material he is covering.
I actually agree that there wasn't enough of Orlok. It's more fun to actually watch an actor do a performance. I guess Skarsgard did a performance? but we the audience barely get to see it. His "IT" performance as Pennywise is more engaging for the audience because you do get to see him do a performance. And I don't get it because any actor could have done this. So why cast Skarsgard?
Haha, I agree again. I did actually enjoy Sonic 3 more. Took the kids to it on cheap ticket Tuesday. Jim Carrey is a national treasure.
I don't really mind the bleakness, in fact I often love dark, foreboding movies. But something about this just felt stiff and unengaging. The stakes felt too vague and unclear or something.
I might give this another watch at home later to see if subtitles make a significant difference, but other than that probably never again.
It was excellent. I wouldn't change a thing. Never before have the psychosexual themes of the original novel been conveyed with so much intensity, and Skarsgard as Orlok is incredible, one of the best horror villains I can recall, and Lily-Rose Depp's performance was perhaps even better.
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Dec 18th, 2023 06:48 PM
