Nosferatu Star Calls Bill Skarsgrd’s Portrayal of Count Orlok ‘Worrying’

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Nosferatu Star Calls Bill Skarsgrd's Portrayal of Count Orlok 'Worrying'

As a film enthusiast who has been captivated by the enigmatic allure of vampires since my childhood nights spent huddled under a blanket, watching Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, I eagerly await Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu. Bill Skarsgård’s transformation into Count Orlok has left me both intrigued and slightly unnerved, not just because he’s mastered the art of terror, but because there’s nothing left of the Swedish actor that resembles the affable Bill we know from his charming roles.

Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal in “The Crow” didn’t win over fans and critics earlier this year, but his transformation into Count Orlok for Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” has left one of his co-stars, Nicholas Hoult, a bit apprehensive – in a positive sense. During an interview with IndieWire at the premiere of “The Order” this week at TIFF, Hoult expressed concern over Skarsgård’s metamorphosis into the title vampire, as by the end of it, there was barely anything left that resembled the Swedish actor.

There’s something unsettling about this person, it’s definitely not Bill. The performance is so convincing that you can hardly recognize him, which is both impressive and unnerving. His voice, mannerisms, even the makeup – everything blends together to create a captivating character. The transformation he achieved with this role is truly remarkable.

This year on Christmas Day, Eggers’ terrifying horror movie will be released in theaters. In addition to Skarsgård and Hoult, the film also features Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson. A modern reinterpretation of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 classic, Skarsgård has a challenging task ahead with Max Schreck’s performance being legendary, but given his exceptional talent, particularly evident in his role in “IT,” he is certainly up to the task.

Initially, there was uncertainty about Skarsgård’s ability to match the iconic performance of Tim Curry as Pennywise. However, his portrayal exceeded expectations, even earning appreciation from the original actor. Despite Hoult’s potential bias due to starring in Nosferatu, it’s evident that when given a chance to shine, Skarsgård successfully redefined the classic villain, a feat seemingly accomplished quite well in the Gothic horror release, with trailer reactions being significantly more favorable than those for The Crow.

Bill Skarsgård Is ‘On A Different Level’ In Nosferatu

Similar to how Heath Ledger immersed himself in The Dark Knight, Skarsgård delved deeply into the character of Count Orlok in Nosferatu, exploring realms of darkness that left him struggling to return to normalcy. In his own words, he shared with Esquire earlier this year: “It was like summoning pure evil. It took a while for me to shed the malevolence I’d conjured within myself.

According to Eggers’ statement, his leading actor truly immersed himself in the role, a fact which left Eggers astonished since Skarsgård’s dedication to character development was so profound that it was challenging for even Eggers to fully grasp. In this Esquire interview, Eggers made this observation:

In the beginning, he attempted to discuss with me the concept of a deceased sorcerer – a topic I’m deeply interested in occultism, but his understanding seemed far beyond mine. I replied, ‘This resonates, yet I struggle to express myself eloquently about this subject.’

The upcoming release of “Nosferatu” seems promising, as it may help Skarsgård shake off the shadow of the critical and financial flop that was “The Crow.” Will he be able to capture the same enchantment he found playing Pennywise? We’ll have to see when it hits theaters on Christmas Day.

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2024-09-11 22:32