Every holiday season needs one big, handsome horror movie. This is something I’ve been saying in my self-published zine for years. Thankfully, this year Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse) delivers a banger. Nosferatu is a lavishly gloomy, period-accurate reimagining of the silent classic. I really loved it (read my review to find out just how much I loved it). One of the best aspects of it is how it takes a very familiar film—and its even more well-known source material—and weaves it in different, newly disturbing ways. But that only works if the cast and execution live up to it.
For a brief glimpse into what I mean, check out our exclusive clip from the film. In it, Professor Von Franz (Willem Dafoe), the movie’s Van Helsing analog, provides both exposition and warning. He’s the only one who fully understands the gravity of the situation. While not in the clip itself, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) and his undead menace permeate every second. The vampire, nosferatu, is truly a creature to fear.
In addition to Dafoe’s great performance, this clip also illustrates the gorgeous costuming from Linda Muir and cinematography by Jarin Blaschke, both regular collaborators of Eggers. The movie plays with a nigh-black and white color palate in some instances and uses fire for bold, almost hellish splashes of warm color. It rules.
If you’re feeling like a ghoulish time at the movies as counterprogramming to the usual Christmas cheer, then Nosferatu is for you. But get ready for proper chills, because this ain’t no silent movie.
Nosferatu hits theaters on Christmas Day.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.
