Nosferatu: the 100th Anniversary
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Sept. 22, 2022, 10:43 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
It is very rare that a movie celebrates its 100th anniversary, but this year is the 100th anniversary of Nosferatu, a silent film that was part of the German expressionist movement of the 1920’s, and a film that many film historians now regard as one of the most influential (and also one of the earliest) horror movies ever made.
The film is, in fact, an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s famous novel Dracula, which was not even thirty years old at that time, although the names of all the characters and locations were changed, to avoid the film studio being accused of copyright infringement, but Stoker’s widow, Florence, still sued the company that produced the film due to the similarities; a judge ordered all copies of the film to be destroyed, but the studio did not comply, which is fortunate, since audiences today consider the film to be a classic of the horror genre.
By today’s standards, the movie may seem to be tame and slow-paced, but I feel that it has a certain charm and atmosphere that are uniquely the products of the time in which it was made; the dim lighting and lack of dialogue allow the viewer’s imagination to be active and produce their own terrors, ensuring that each viewer has their own personal experience with the film.
Most significantly, the main antagonist, count Orlok, has become a staple of horror and of popular culture overall. Most media portrays vampires as suave and seductive, which is how Dracula was in the original novel, but count Orlok is loathsome and hideous, a monster both literally and metaphorically, and he has influenced nearly as many characters in popular culture as has Bela Lugosi with his portrayal of Dracula, nine years later; if a vampire in a story has a bald head, pointed ears, or other animalistic features, they likely are paying homage to count Orlok.
Also of note is the name of the actor who played count Orlok: Max Schreck; "schreck" is the German word for "horror," so his name in English is "maximum horror" or "greatest horror." I am certain that that is a pure coincidence, but it is still interesting to note, and another very interesting fact is that the movie was released in 1922, the same year in which Christopher Lee, who would later deliver what is perhaps the most famous portrayal of a vampire in motion picture history, was born; again, that is almost certainly a coincidence, but it is still a fascinating piece of trivia.
I had known about this film for many years, but I watched it for the first time only several years ago, and I certainly enjoyed it; at this point in my life, it did not terrify me, as it likely did to audiences who saw it when it was initially released, but I still was able to appreciate it and understand its significant in history and popular culture, and I own it on home video, so I definitely shall watch it, again, at some point.
What does everyone else say about this? What are your thoughts about this year being the 100th anniversary of Nosferatu?
Squee_Spirit_Guide says... #3
I've never seen Nosferatu, but after reading this I'm going to check it out. Thanks for sharing!
September 22, 2022 11:41 p.m.
Not only one of the first horror films, but definitely one of the first to really make the villain the star of the show, something that would become a very enduring alternate angle in fiction. And I really like seeing Nosferatu thorough a modern view because it was a time when villains were different. With the appearance of a half beast half man, the original vampire really embodied the idea of being what scares you most outside the city walls and what scares you most within them. Most modern villains just don't have that, and I always found it a very good way to play on an audience's instincts to make nosferatu more threatening.
Also without Nosferatu there is now Shadow of the Vampire, and that was just delightful. Or for that matter, Let the Right One In, the original not the lame American remake. I just really enjoy that we've gotten from a place where vampires are stalking predators to where your first crush story can also happen to be a vampire story : )
September 23, 2022 8:02 a.m.
Count Orlok is to this day still one of the creepiest antagonists in history - he is the stuff of nightmares.
September 26, 2022 6:25 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #6
To relate this thread to MtG, there is little doubt that Verrak, Warped Sengir was inspired by Count Orlok, as well.
October 1, 2022 11:25 p.m.
I always get reminded of the Count when I see the old Sengir Autocrat - such great art
legendofa says... #2
Nosferatu is also the source of vampires actually being destroyed by sunlight. In the original folklore and literature, sunlight was somewhere between a deterrent and an inconvenience; Dracula, Lord Ruthven, the sources from southeastern Europe, they could all survive in daylight, if usually with reduced capabilities (Dracula simply be ing a very strong man, Ruthven unable to heal, etc.). The climax of Nosferatu is the first time sunlight is shown as actively harmful. Little bit of vampire trivia for everyone.
September 22, 2022 11:27 p.m.