Nosferatu - Blu-ray Review

[Michael Scott]

Nosferatu



Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:



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Movie
I’m going to say upfront that I was VERY nervous about Nosferatu. Dracula and his many film incarnations are already on shaky ground as they are. Still, the iconic Nosferatu film is a hard film to adapt to modern cinematic rules and morays. So naturally I was hoping that they would do the original (and the many horrible remakes) justice. The one shining hope that many of us banked on was the fact that Robert Eggers was helming the entire production, and his entire body of theatrical work has been nothing short of amazing (The Lighthouse, The Northman, The Witch) to date. So, I stuck both fingers in my ears for the last 6 months or so and ignored every bit of cinematic criticism in hopes of going in as effectively blind as possible for this viewing to alleviate any misconceptions or predilections.

I don’t really have to outline every bit of plot detail for fans as the infamous vampire lord and his descent upon England from Transylvania has been regaled upon history for over a hundred years. Needless to say, the film focuses on a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman named Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) and the manipulations of a centuries-old monster (Bill Skarsgard). Ellen has experienced night terrors and intimations of possession since she was a child, but modern medicine poo-poos ancient superstitions, instead diagnosing her as “melancholic”. Things get astronomically worse when her newlywed husband Thomas (Nicholas Hoult) travels to Transylvania to facilitate a land sale to the mysterious Count Orlock (Bill Skarsgard).

However, this is no ordinary land sale. Thomas knows something is off the second he sets foot in the dilapidated castle the count calls home, and it’s not long before he finds himself the mental slave to the undead man who has eyes on not only England but his wife Ellen as well. The rest of the film plays out exactly as you would think. A cat and mouse game between Thomas, Ellen, Doctor Albin Eberhard von Franz (Willem Dafoe), and an unfeeling monster whose only motivation is to rule and feed.

Nosferatu is not a vampire tale that will appeal to your average moviegoer. There’s no Hugh Jackman shooting cross-bolts at the monster. There is no fancy budget (the whole thing was shot on a less than $50 million budget, including the use of higher-priced Super 35 Kodak film stock), nor are there wild scenes of supernatural combat. Robert Eggers has gone out of his way to craft an incredibly textured Gothic horror story that feels like it is a modern take on a 1920s vampire film. The entire thing just oozes ambiance and creep factor, as Eggers sets up each and every scene with precise details and visual horror. There is some definite R-rated blood and gore going on here, but instead of being used as the main treat for the film, it accentuates and holds up the Gothic ambiance, and subtle psychological terror is created for us.

On the other hand, the slow pacing is somewhat laborious in the middle act. I love the textures, the vibe, and the language used for the period, but that middle act feels like a retelling that we’ve all seen before. The fevered dreamscape of Hellen, the voyage of the Demeter crashing in on England’s shore, and the setup for Count Orlock to finally get set up in his new abode. Each of these elements is ok on its own, but when watched so recently after seeing other films like The Last Voyage of the Demeter it feels slightly cliched. That being said, this is still a wonderful film that THRIVES in the final act of the narrative. Everything laid out in the first hour and 30 minutes comes home to roost in a chilling conclusion that brings the “horror” back to horror movies.




Rating:

Rated R for bloody violent content, graphic nudity, and some sexual content.




Video:

As you can already guess from my analysis of the film above, the visuals of the movie are simply superb. Eggers shot Nosferatu on 35mm Kodak film stock in 1.66:1, effectively imitating a much older generation of filmmaking. The entire thing is bathed in deep blacks, amber, and mahogany daylight times, and spotted with flickering candlelit lighting. As such, the film is going to be very grainy at times, with a heavy covering of nearly black and white grading with cool blues seeping out from every pore. That doesn’t mean that the visual clarity is anyway affected, as the film showcases stunning detail and luxurious textures at every turn. I almost feel the rough-hewn planks of the Demeter as it makes its way across the ocean, as the repulsive way that they portray Count Orlock’s “affliction” on his physical stature is mind-blowingly creepy. Visually this picture is one of the most non-traditionally stunning picture that I’ve seen in years, with an amazingly visceral feel to it.









Audio:

Universal is one of the “good guys” who utilizes the same Dolby Atmos track on the Blu-ray as well as the 4K UHD disc unlike some other studios (I’m looking at you Lionsgate and Sony!), so luckily we don’t have to imagine what the 4K disc sounds like while getting serious FOMO. The Dolby Atmos mix is well balanced, with an emphasis placed upon atmospherics and ambiance more than shock and awe. The discrete sounds come through cleanly and clearly but also balance well with the moody creaks, groans, and scrapes of rat feet across cobblestones nicely. The musical score flows effortlessly throughout all 9 channels of my home theater with ease, surrounding the listening position with a coffin-pressured sense of immersion. The heights get quite the workout with echoing voices in a prison, as well as creaks, moans, and screams in the night as well. But the real stand-out feature of the mix is the bass. Oh….my….goodness, the BASS! This thing hits hard, it hits low, and it hits often. Whether it be jump scare moments, or just the dreadful terror as Thomas tries to escape Orlok’s castle, the LFE channel delivers in spades. I don’t have my REW software and mic setup right now, but I can guarantee that we’re getting some serious subsonic bass right here. The hairs on my arms virtually vibrated erect multiple times, and I had to open my doors to the home theater room just because my isolation pads weren’t enough to keep the dual panel doors from vibrating on their own. Yeah, this is going to rival Wicked for demo material.











Extras:

• NOSFERATU: A MODERN MASTERPIECE – Explore the deepest, darkest depths of NOSFERATU with the actors and artists whose commitment and craftwork take the classic vampire epic to horrifying new heights.
•BREATHING LIFE INTO A DREAM – Filmmaker Robert Eggers' lifelong dream becomes a startling cinematic nightmare as the actors collaborate on transformative performances to make his Gothic vision an astonishing reality.
•BECOMING COUNT ORLOK – Practical makeup FX seamlessly melds with Bill Skarsgård's bold interpretation of Count Orlok to resurrect a villain whose unsettling appearance is both creepy and captivating.
•CAPTURING THE MOOD – From sunlight, snowfall, and shadows to candlelight and complicated camera moves, see how each visually rich detail contributes to NOSFERATU's incredibly eerie atmosphere.
•RECREATING 1838 – Open a virtual time capsule with production designer Craig Lathrop, whose intricately detailed sets immerse viewers in an entirely authentic world.
•DRESSING THE PART – Whether accenting Count Orlok's otherworldliness or telling background tales through clothing, watch costume designer Linda Muir fashion distinct looks that extend each character's story.
•THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING – Visual effects supervisor Angela Barson and composer Robin Carolan enhance NOSFERATU's nightmarish fantasy using stunning CGI and a breathtaking score.
•DELETED SCENES
-- Ellen at the Window
-- Harding's Bedchamber/Dark Corridor
-- Behold, the Third Night
•FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR ROBERT EGGERS

Final Score:
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My best friend is a rabid horror fanatic on my own level, but while he loathed the entire second half of the film, I absolutely loved it. I know that not every horror fan is going to jive with it, but the absolutely incredible labor of love that Eggers put into the production is something every horror fan SHOULD see at the very least. It’s one of the most textural feeling films of the last 20 years, with fantastic cinematography, great film stock, and a color grading that exemplifies classic Gothic tones. The Blu-ray looks and sounds amazing, with a healthy set of extras onboard as well. The only thing I can complain about is that I didn’t get to see the 4K UHD! End of the day a great watch, but going to appeal to fans of Gothic horror.


Technical Specifications:

Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson
Directed by: Robert Eggers
Written by: Robert Eggers, Henrik Galeen, Bram Stoker (Novel)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 AVC
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), French, Spanish DD+ 7.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Studio: Universal
Rated: R/Not Rated
Runtime: 136 minutes (Unrated) / 132 minutes (theatrical)
Blu-Ray Release Date: February 18th, 2025

Recommendation: Good Watch