As a lifelong gamer with a soft spot for both horror movies and unique collector’s items, I can’t help but be absolutely thrilled about the upcoming release of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu. Not only does it promise to be an intriguing reimagining of a classic vampire tale, but the marketing around it is nothing short of genius.
In the realm of innovative film marketing, Focus Features truly deserves a standing ovation for ending 2024 with the release of Robert Eggers’ updated version of F. W. Murnau’s 1922 vampire masterpiece, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, titled simply as Nosferatu.
Apart from making the movie’s release date on December 25th an ideal alternative for the holiday season (book tickets immediately), it also offers unique perks for goth enthusiasts. For instance, major theater chains are offering popcorn containers shaped like coffins, and they’ve licensed an official “Nosferatu”-themed coffin from Titan Caskets for a permanent resting place. Additionally, they’re even marketing a life-size replica sarcophagus of Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) as a replacement for your master bed.
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Everything about it is delightfully strange, eerie, and above all, genuine! It’s fascinating to know that these intricately designed coffins draw inspiration from the stunning and historically accurate creations of Craig Lathrop, production designer for the movie Nosferatu, merged with ideas from Robert Eggers that have been brewing for a long time, rooted in Romanian history and folklore. Recently, SYFY WIRE interviewed both Lathrop and Eggers about the creative process behind this film’s unique take on the classic vampire coffin belonging to Orlok, and the excitement of having the most sought-after merchandise of the cinematic season centered around a sarcophagus.
The ornate origins of Count Orlok’s massive coffin in Nosferatu
Are you captivated by the expensive $20,000 replica bed made to look like a 250-pound sarcophagus, or are you happy with just posing for a selfie next to a smaller version available at certain AMC Theaters across the nation? In any case, there’s plenty of interesting details about the decorations and symbols adorning its exterior that you might want to learn about.
Lathrop, the production designer for Nosferatu and a frequent collaborator with Eggers, shared that the final design of the coffin was developed after extensive research and numerous revisions in collaboration with the director. Specifically, Eggers aimed to emphasize visual elements stemming from the ancient Dacian people residing near the Carpathian Mountains and west of the Black Sea for the film’s aesthetic. This region sparked Lathrop’s interest in the relief narrative on Trajan’s Column, which ultimately served as inspiration for the exterior design of Orlock’s coffin.
The dragon-like feet supporting the coffin from touching the ground are replicas of Dacian dragons, characterized by features reminiscent of canine or wolf heads. Lathrop pointed out that the ring pulls, designed to appear more canine-like, draw inspiration from various sources but predominantly Roman in origin.
Lathrop shared with SYFY Wire, “I uncovered one casket in a museum dating back to the early 16th century; it’s a sarcophagus from Poland that once held a Polish noble. I also discovered a few more through my research. By blending them together and incorporating Solomonic symbols, I transformed it into Orlok’s coffin – an intriguing process.
What is the Solomonic symbology on Count Orlock’s sarcophagus in Nosferatu?
Solomonic symbology originates from Solomon in the Bible, as well as The Testament of Solomon, which is considered the foundational text for Solomonic Magic and Occultism. Eggers wanted to root much of the iconography in the film in this well-known text and symbology.
Lathrop stated, chuckling, “Robert is quite an expert in the mysteries of the occult.” He admitted finding it challenging to match pace with the director’s profound exploration of the subject matter prior to filming. “He would approve or disapprove of certain elements, just as one does,” Lathrop explained. “There were some debates on that, but we finally reached a consensus. Additionally, there were several symbols in our production that stemmed from this same research phase, though I’m unsure if they made it into the final cut.
In Lathrop’s words, “We understood that was a significant aspect we needed to get right,” continued. If you’re interested, seek out the symbolism in specific books, on the coffin, or in Herr Knock’s office (portrayed by Simon McBurney) within the completed film.
Nosferatu director Robert Eggers on Orlock’s coffin becoming to-die-for merchandise
It’s worth noting that Eggers and Lathrop didn’t have a direct role in the creation of Nosferatu coffin merchandise. Yet, it’s delightful to see how their work has been transformed into souvenirs that they never would have imagined possible.
Particularly intriguing to Eggers is the degree of transformation his vampire prop has undergone, now encompassing actual beds, authentic coffins, and popcorn containers.
Eggers humorously acknowledged that he’s not particularly familiar with the popcorn bucket craze due to being somewhat unfashionable in other areas. However, he finds it quite impressive. What’s more, as a child, he imagined creating movies accompanied by merchandise, but never envisioned it happening as an adult or while working on films. So, it feels strange yet wonderful and genuinely humbling to see all this associated stuff existing now. It’s mind-blowing.
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2024-12-19 22:01