Yes, Nosferatu Really Used 5,000 Live Rats on Set – Here’s How They Did It

As a seasoned gamer and film enthusiast with a soft spot for horror, I must confess that Robert Eggers’ reimagining of Nosferatu (2024) has undoubtedly sent chills down my spine. The sheer terror of Count Orlok, played brilliantly by Bill Skarsgård, is unparalleled, but it’s the swarm of real rats that truly make this cinematic experience a nightmare for the faint-hearted.

Having had a rodent phobia since my childhood days when a family pet rat decided to take an unscheduled tour of our living room, I can relate all too well to the sheer panic that these creatures instill. And with Eggers’ team using 5,000 rats on set, I’m left wondering if I should invest in some extra controllers for my gamepad to fend off those digital rodents!

The film’s dedication to animal welfare is commendable, as it ensures that none of the rats were harmed during filming. This is a stark contrast to Werner Herzog’s 1979 adaptation, where allegations of animal abuse were rampant. Thankfully, we can now enjoy the movie without any moral dilemma.

In closing, I’d like to share a light-hearted moment – after watching Nosferatu (2024), I plan on setting up my own rat-free gaming sanctuary. Just in case, I’ll need to stock up on some extra-large rat repellent – you know, just in case those digital rats decide to pay a visit!

While Bill Skarsgård’s chilling portrayal of Count Orlok in Nosferatu undoubtedly causes dread, you might find the multitude of plague-ridden rats scurrying about a German town even more unsettling. If rodents give you the heebie-jeebies, I’m afraid I have to share some disheartening news: many of these rats were genuine, and director Robert Eggers had an astounding 5,000 of them roaming his set.

The current film playing in cinemas is a highly anticipated modern take on F.W. Murnau’s 1922 movie “Nosferatu,” which was an unauthorized adaptation of “Dracula.” Although all adaptations of Nosferatu’s second act feature Count Nosferatu arriving at a gloomy German town, accompanied by rats spreading illness.

For More on Nosferatu

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How Nosferatu (2024) used 5,000 real rats on set

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In Eggers’ film “Nosferatu,” the majority of rodents are authentic creatures, with just a few computer-generated images and props added to further increase their already significant population.

In his latest chat with Guillermo del Toro, as reported by Variety, Eggers stated that if there are rats visible up close, they’re actual live ones, but as they move further away, they transition into computer-generated ones. He added that the real rats were well-trained.

Significantly, during an interview with the trade publication, production designer Craig Lathrop pointed out that no rats were injured or harmed during the production of this movie. This is worth mentioning because a prior adaptation of Nosferatu, Werner Herzog’s 1979 film Nosferatu the Vampyre, faced accusations of animal cruelty for how it handled the live rats used in the production.

In Eggers’ “Nosferatu”, it was not the situation where any of the rats were missing. Instead, we located all of them. They were all present. We set up plexiglass enclosures to ensure the live rats remained in a confined space, Lathrop explained to Variety. This way, during the street scene, the horses stayed on one side of the plexiglass partition while the rats stayed on the other. This was done to prevent the rats from scurrying beneath the horses’ hooves and getting squashed, ensuring everyone’s safety.

Even though the movie was filled with intense scenes of violence and character deaths, it’s comforting to think that the rats who briefly appeared in some scenes had a pleasant time during filming.

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2024-12-31 21:31