{"id":30375,"date":"2025-01-22T12:35:25","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T17:35:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30375"},"modified":"2025-01-29T11:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T16:05:10","slug":"eccentric-director-robert-eggers-devises-unique-imagery-and-a-peculiar-storyline-for-his-remake-of-nosferatu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30375","title":{"rendered":"Eccentric Director Robert Eggers Devises Unique Imagery and a Peculiar Storyline for His Re-imagining of “Nosferatu”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Review by Brad Balfour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Film: “Nosferatu”
Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Ineson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As legendary characters go, few offer as much inspiration as does the vampire. The notion of an undead bloodsucker preying on the innocent and ignorant provokes endless variations. Credit has to be given to the late Irish author Bram Stoker who invented a character that has become an indelible institution throughout the creative global landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stoker infused into the character of Dracula, the ultimate vampire, elements from Irish mythology. Given the gothic nature and pagan background of Irish mythology, it makes sense that an Irishman would draw on the dark myths from a Gaelic tradition. Take the banshee and the selkie \u2014 mythic creatures who fit into the conception of a vampire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything in the vampire tradition is okay by me. Filtered through the Germanic imagery of the original silent version — throwing in a bit from Werner Herzog’s reinterpretation — fantastical director Robert Eggers’ takes his Count Orlok one step further. Even the film’s title, “Nosferatu,” is an archaic Romanian word synonymous with “vampire.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept was popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Western fiction particularly in Stoker’s 1897 gothic novel of \u201cDracula\u201d and in F. W. Murnau\u2019s 1922 masterful silent film “Nosferatu” a masterpiece of German expressionist filmmaking. Eggers\u2018 fourth film is a bold re-imagining of both the film and the original novel. In Eggers\u2019 version, the image of the master vamp\u2019s decaying flesh, grotesque fingers and absurdly exaggerated mustache leaves an indelible impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the course of rewriting the first unauthorized vampire tale, Eggers took further liberties. He scrambled various details from the city in which the story takes place, as well as the various characters\u2019 names and backstories. Nonetheless, the basics of the original narrative remain. A facilitator arranges for the vampire to leave his home turf and come to the city where he will establish a base. Once Orlok arrives and takes root in a local estate, he wreaks havoc. Eventually, as he pursues the young woman who provoked him in the first place, he takes possession of her \u2014 leading to his ultimate downfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Brad Balfour<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The malleable actor Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd plays the grotesque Count who forces himself onto gorgeous Ellen Hutter (played by the enticing Lily-Rose Depp). The ever-growing connection between them terrifies and appalls Ms. Hutter\u2019s new husband, Thomas (Nicholas Hoult.) In addition, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin and Eggers regulars, Willem Dafoe and Ralph Ineson, round out those who are threatened by the undead master. Eggers\u2019 version really highlights — through the force of his depiction of the vampire — that this tale is a perverse love story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, vampire films elicit thoughts of sex and erotica. This film addresses those concepts forcefully with the idea that Ellen Hutter is actually the Count\u2019s long-lost bride, forced, years later, to reconnect with her undead paramour. And although the film stumbles at times, this tale of the vampire\u2019s passion makes it worthy of multiple viewings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It should be noted that “Nosferatu” has been nominated for four Oscars including: Production Design — Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerov\u00e1; Best Makeup\/Hair — David White, Traci Loader, and Suzanne Stokes-Munton; Linda Muir for Best Costume Design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all that in mind, Film at Lincoln Center has scheduled a unique mini-series showcasing cinematic influences on Eggers which informed the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From February 5\u20139, 2025, \u201cConjuring Nosferatu: Robert Eggers Presents\u201d offers screenings of the films that inspired this spellbinding take on fiction\u2019s most famous monster. These eclectic, gothic Hollywood deep cuts \u2013 rare works of Eastern European folk horror and captivating evocations of 18th-century England \u2013 are coupled with a special screening on 35mm of Eggers\u2019 own \u201cNosferatu.\u201d
 
Across four intensely stylish, powerfully atmospheric and richly detailed features, Eggers has established himself as one of cinema\u2019s most singular auteurs. His films \u2013 deeply researched and steeped in worlds that predate the advent of cinema \u2013 are also the results of a consummate cinephile as conversant with film history as he is with the history of the occult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Nosferatu”
Robert Eggers, 2024, U.S., 35mm, 132m
Wednesday, February 5 at 6pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Svengali”
Archie Mayo, 1931, U.S., 16mm, 81m
Thursday, February 6 at 6:15pm at the Francesca Beale Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Beauty and the Beast”
Jean Cocteau, 1946, France, 35mm, 96m French with English subtitles
Friday, February 7 at 6pm at the Walter Reade Theater
Saturday, February 8 at 1:30pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Great Expectations”
David Lean, 1946, U.K., 118m
Saturday, February 8 at 3:45pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Queen of Spades”
Thorold Dickinson, 1949, U.K., 95m
Friday, February 7 at 8:15pm at the Walter Reade Theater
Sunday, February 9 at 5:15pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Andriesh”
Yakov Bazelyan, Sergei Parajanov, 1954, USSR, 63m Russian with English subtitles
Friday, February 7 at 4:30pm at the Walter Reade Theater
Sunday, February 9 at 2:00pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Innocents”
Jack Clayton, 1961, U.K., 100m
Saturday, February 8 at 6:15pm at the Walter Reade Theater
Sunday, February 9 at 7:30pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Eve of Ivan Kupalo”
Yuri Ilyenko, 1968, USSR, 71m Ukrainian with English subtitles
Thursday, February 6 at 8:15pm at the Francesca Beale Theater
Sunday, February 9 at 3:30pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The She-Butterfly \/ Leptirica”
\u0110ordje Kadijevi\u0107, 1973, Serbia, 63m Serbian with English subtitles
Wednesday, February 5 at 9:15pm at the Walter Reade Theater
Saturday, February 8 at 8:30pm at the Walter Reade Theater<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more info, go to: https:\/\/www.filmlinc.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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