by Andrew Auclair ’29 on October 30, 2025
A&E - Film & TV
Nosferatu (2024) is a horror-mystery film directed by Robert Eggers and released during the holiday season just less than a full year ago. However, as we approach the spooky season once more, it feels like the perfect time to revisit this unique reimagining of one of cinema’s oldest horror stories. I first saw Nosferatu on New Year’s Day with a friend, and the theater was absolutely packed (mostly with kids who, frankly, shouldn’t have been there). Ironically, my friend and I weren’t 18 either, so we ended up sneaking into this R-rated film without getting questioned. Maybe that makes me a bit of a hypocrite, but it was absolutely worth it. Having only seen a few clips from the original 1922 silent film, I went in almost completely blind, unsure what to expect from this modern version.
The first act of Nosferatu (2024) plays like an extremely faithful recreation of the original, capturing its eerie tone and deliberate pacing. However, as the film progresses into the second and third acts, it transforms into something reminiscent of a more modern blockbuster horror movie. Despite this shift, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The film manages to avoid most of the predictable clichés that plague contemporary horror, while still being just as engaging and visually stunning. The cinematography was breathtaking, with multiple artistic shots and creative uses of camera perspective that completely blew my friend and me away. The acting was equally impressive: Nicholas Hoult (now best known for his Lex Luthor) gave a captivating performance as the male lead, and Lily-Rose Depp was excellent in her role as well. A surprising highlight was learning that most of the mice and rats featured on screen throughout the movie were real and properly trained; an impressive touch that added an unsettling realism to the film’s atmosphere.
One of the most effective choices by Eggers was how he concealed Nosferatu’s full appearance until the later acts. The gradual reveal built an incredible sense of dread and suspense. When the monster finally emerged, Bill Skarsgård played an absolutely terrifying, haunting, and almost operatic presence that dominated every frame he appeared in. If there’s one aspect that didn’t quite work for me, it was Willem Dafoe’s performance.
As much as I respect Dafoe as an actor, his presence here felt somewhat out of place. He tends to bring a whimsical or eccentric energy to his roles, and while that works brilliantly in many films, it clashes a bit with the serious and grotesque tone of Nosferatu. His acting wasn’t bad by any means, but it occasionally broke the immersion. Also, I didn’t expect the film to be as provocatively raunchy as it was. Having not seen any of the previous adaptations, I was surprised by how intensely sensual some scenes were, but as my first R-rated theater experience, I probably should’ve expected as much.
In retrospect, Nosferatu (2024) stands as an incredible horror movie and a loving, faithful adaptation of a story almost lost to time. It has its flaws, specifically within some of its casting, but it’s clearly a film made with passion, precision, and years of dedication to capturing the essence of classic horror. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the originals or just looking for something captivating to watch this Halloween, Nosferatu is a chilling and beautifully crafted experience that shouldn’t be missed.