"Nosferatu 2024" - A Modern Version Worthy Of Its Predecessors

1922 saw the release of the German expressionist masterpiece "Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Horror." Directed by F. W. Murnau and starring Max Schreck as Count Orlok, the film is a timeless piece of terror, ushering in the start of horror as a genre. 

1979 saw this film remade by Werner Herzog and played by the controversial yet brilliant performer Klaus Kinski as Count Orlok in the equally brilliant "Nosferatu the Vampyre." Both films give sumptuous visuals married with eerie atmosphere. And with both closely following the story of "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, the films cement the immortal legacy of this vampire story.

So it's not an exaggeration to say that following these two masterworks is a daunting task. And what filmmaker would be so bold as to even attempt it? Why, non other than Robert Eggers of "The Witch" fame. Judging by that modern horror classic, he would be a perfect candidate for recreating the mystical visuals of the previous "Nosferatu" films. And in choosing Bill Skarsgard as Count Orlok would only solidify Skarsgard as a new horror icon, thanks to his chilling performance as Pennywise The Clown in the "It" films.

Having seen the film, I can come to the conclusion that the tradition of Nosferatu is alive and well. An amazing, modern take on the film has been created for a whole new generation of fans who may not have been familiar with the original and remakes but will probably go out of their way to go see them. 

The original films portray the vampire as a plague among men, as is how primitive, superstitious man would have reacted to plagues in the past. Even with modern medicine creating leaps and bounds in creating vaccines and therapeutics to make serious pandemics less serious, plagues still are unsettling. They create fear and uncertainty in an already complex and uncertain world. So even with a classic novel from 1897, two films from the 20th century, and now this new retelling, the themes of plagues and the fear they produce amongst the population still ring true. And add some supernatural evil in the mix and you have yourself a chilling time at the movies. 

To sum it all up, this film is a worthy version of its predecessors. And a reminder that horror, for whatever unjustified reasons it receives as a 'lesser than' genre, continues to create a great and legendary legacy in the history of film itself. 

Please check out the new 2024 version of "Nosferatu" in theaters, if you love the genre of horror.