Why Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu Cast a Romanian Grandmother Known for Her TikTok Cooking Videos

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As a lifelong aficionado of horror films with a penchant for the macabre and the supernatural, I must confess that Robert Eggers‘ latest offering, “Nosferatu,” has sent chills down my spine like no other. Having traversed the darkened landscapes of terror in countless cinematic ventures, I can confidently say that this modern reimagining of the 1922 classic is a tour de force that sets new standards for vampire cinema.

A classic vampire movie isn’t really a classic vampire movie unless an out-of-towner receives ominous warnings from angry villagers as the newcomer makes their way to the creepy castle perched on a yonder mountaintop. Writer-director-producer Robert Eggers saw no reason to dispense with tradition when he set out to realize his longtime passion project: a modern reimagining of the 1922 horror film, Nosferatu, a seminal adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula that kicked off cinema’s obsession with undead bloodsuckers.

In the manner of its quiet and colorless ancestor, Eggers’ adaptation transports us to the base of Transylvania’s Carpathian Mountains in Romania, guided by Thomas Hutter, a real estate agent striving to clinch a deal with Count Orlok, portrayed by Bill Skarsgård from ‘Barbarian’. Unbeknownst to him, Orlok is a ghoul who harbors a sinister interest in Thomas’s wife, Ellen, played by Lily-Rose Depp in ‘Voyager’.

Following his statement about heading towards Orlok’s eerie abode, Mr. Hutter encounters hostile reactions from uneasy villagers. Among them is an authentic Romanian granny, who gained fame on TikTok for her culinary videos.

For More on Nosferatu

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Nosferatu: Robert Eggers “Fearful” That Unrecognizable Bill Skarsgard “Might Not Get the Credit”How Robert Eggers’ Viking Epic The Northman Changed His Upcoming Nosferatu Reimagining

Why Nosferatu cast Bunica, a TikTok-famous grandmother from Romania

In her interview with Empire magazine’s 2025 preview issue (available for purchase here), Eggers describes finding Bunica, who is affectionately known as ‘Granny.’ Her niece manages a TikTok account where Bunica shares traditional Romanian recipes. As it turns out, Bunica had some experience with cameras from appearing on talk shows. Moreover, she showcased creativity by adopting a Transylvanian accent for the movie, a fact Eggers was unaware of but was impressed by.

Check out Bunica’s culinary videos here!

In his commitment to authenticity, Eggers ensured that even the character of Orlok, the vampire, spoke a long-forgotten language called Dacian, which was once spoken by the forefathers of modern Romanians. To achieve this in the dialogue scenes, Eggers collaborated extensively with native Transylvanian screenwriter Florin Lăzărescu, who provided valuable insights into the folklore elements incorporated within the script’s narrative.

Florin Lazarescu, a scholar of Transylvania, remarked during a recent Q&A session moderated by Guillermo del Toro, “You might recall — although it’s usually overlooked — the folklore often depicts vampires as having red faces. And I was struck by that thought,” he said, paraphrased by CinemaBlend. “In the sequences where his face appears flushed, it resembles a fire glowing, making it hard to discern. However, we’ve strategically placed pools of blood beneath his skin in specific areas as an homage to this detail.

How to watch Nosferatu in theaters

Viewers are now invited to savour the chilling experience of Nosferatu starting Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25. Secure your tickets by clicking here! This movie, carrying an R rating for intense violence, explicit nudity, and adult themes, currently boasts a remarkable 93% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Besides Hoult, Skarsgård, and Depp, the cast of Nosferatu also features Aaron Taylor-Johnson from The Fall Guy, Emma Corrin known for her role in Deadpool & Wolverine, Ralph Ineson recognized from The First Omen, Simon McBurney who starred in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, and the multi-talented Willem Dafoe, famous for his roles in films like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

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2024-12-09 23:16