I Finally Saw Nosferatu, And I’m Convinced Robert Eggers Has Mastered One Thing Horror Directors Forget To Try

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Visiting the cinema during winter can be delightful, particularly for those who appreciate the eerie charm and gloomy ambiance of gothic horror films. Despite its release being scheduled for 2024, Robert Eggers‘ “Nosferatu” remains poised to captivate viewers with its chilling allure and thirst for blood and awe. Having seen it myself, I must admit that this film is a flawless blend of horror, as the director has excelled in aspects that many horror directors often overlook.

Nosferatu Is A Rare Example Of Palpable Cinematic Dread

Finding the right balance is crucial when it comes to horror films – some rely on grand visual effects to frighten, while others create an unsettling ambiance that lingers in your mind long after the movie ends. The film ‘Nosferatu’ belongs to the latter category, as the haunting chase of Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) by Count Orlok (BIll Skarsgård) is a genuinely spine-tingling experience.

This movie, set during Christmas, doesn’t just rely on the holiday for its atmosphere; instead, under Robert Eggers’ guidance as both writer and director, it weaves together elements of sorrow, peril, and mortality, creating an unyielding sense of melancholy and danger throughout the film.

In Nosferatu, some characters strive to combat despair in the name of love, making it a poignantly bittersweet gothic romance. Few horror films delve into dread as masterfully as Focus Features’ holiday offering does, and analyzing the elements that make this film so special helps explain why it is so effective.

The Sound Design Of Nosferatu Pushes The Audience’s Limits

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to catch Nosferatu on its IMAX screen because I didn’t make it to the theater until later in the month. However, luckily, I was still able to see it in Dolby format instead. Interestingly enough, this format seems to emphasize a crucial aspect that all premium formats should enhance in this film – its meticulously crafted and spine-tingling sound design.

Upon the eerie arrival of Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) in Transylvania, the journey to Count Orlok’s manor is filled with an oppressive silence, punctuated by the ominous creatures lurking in the shadows of the dense forest. The sound levels seem deliberately manipulated to make you yearn for quietude one moment and then jolt you out of it the next. This, combined with Robin Carolan’s haunting music, created moments that were so loud and intense they sent a shiver down my spine.

Watching Nosferatu left me grinning, for it skillfully keeps you on edge without relying on sudden shocks. If you manage to remain unaffected by Count Orlok’s thunderous commands or lengthy soliloquies, then you must be either a fearless canine or a vampire yourself. Yet, that observation brings a tinge of melancholy, for the intention behind Robert Eggers’ decade-long labor of love, The Lighthouse, is to send chills down your spine in the most effective manner possible.

Robert Eggers’ Visual Language For Nosferatu Takes Its Time

People are realizing from Superman’s recent IMAX mix-up that titles urging “Experience it in IMAX” mean it’s adapted for large format. However, you’ll still get great visual and audio quality, but seeing it in that specific format may not be as crucial as attending an Oppenheimer 70mm screening. Watching Nosferatu through that particular offering is fine, as Robert Eggers’ visual style effectively permeates the story regardless of the theatrical format chosen.

The images are not just powerful and disturbing, they’re shown for an extended period, allowing them to linger directly before your eyes. Instead of the typical horror genre tactics such as sudden jumpscares and quick edits intended to startle both me and the viewers, we encounter prolonged shots that keep our attention fixed on the horrors we should be scrutinizing.

Pausing for a moment to fully absorb the gruesome brutality unfolding, this intensifies the chilling apprehension that pervades the audience, gradually increasing tension. The fiery aftermath of Willem Dafoe igniting the coffin room is so palpable, it makes me reconsider my initial thoughts about releasing Nosferatu during winter. Incidentally, I’d be thrilled if they did a limited re-release in cinemas, as I’m curious to see how IMAX enhances the film.

Nosferatu’s Dreadful Atmosphere Could Revive Gothic Horror

If you’re familiar with me, you’d guess the film I’ll reference in this concluding part of my argument. Many renowned horror directors tend to shy away from gothic horror, but there’s one exception who has delved into it before and is doing so currently. Undoubtedly, I’m referring to Guillermo del Toro, whose works such as “Crimson Peak” and the “Cabinet of Curiosities” anthology, share a similar gothic theme.

The difference between Gothic horror and other subgenres is crucial, and it’s one of the reasons Del Toro believes Crimson Peak didn’t perform as well as expected. The film’s budget and marketing strategy were more geared towards mainstream audiences. Despite the Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska romance developing a strong fanbase over the past decade, it’s refreshing to see that Nosferatu didn’t have to contend with similar issues.

As a fan who can’t get enough of horror classics like “28 Years Later” and has a soft spot for blood and gore, I’m not claiming that filmmakers in this genre lack the ability to produce movies akin to “Nosferatu”. However, I strongly believe that an increased focus on romantically gloomy tragedies could be beneficial. This approach might attract more “non-horror” enthusiasts, offering them a taste of the thrilling experiences that horror aficionados have long appreciated and enjoyed.

It’s clear that the market ultimately decides if we see more movies like this, but with Robert Eggers’ film earning over $100 million, it certainly seems as though audiences might be open to seeing more of this kind of horror. If you’re intrigued by delving into the chilling world of Nosferatu, I strongly suggest you visit your local cinema for the experience.

Experience Robert Eggers’ masterful portrayal of gothic horror best when immersed within the cinematic setting itself. For verification purposes, I invite you to peruse my review of “Crimson Peak,” penned in 2015, as an additional testament to my credibility. Enjoy the reading under soft candlelight.

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2025-01-11 05:42