In this highly influential silent horror film, the mysterious Count Orlok (Max Schreck) summons Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his remote Transylvanian castle in the mountains. The eerie Orlok seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). After Orlok reveals his vampire nature, Hutter struggles to escape the castle, knowing that Ellen is in grave danger. Meanwhile Orlok's servant, Knock (Alexander Granach), prepares for his master to arrive at his new home.
22 Jan Nosferatu (1922)
Bloodless, Sexless
I consider “Shadow of the Vampire” one of the most intelligent films ever made. Herzog’s remake of this is even interesting if terminally flawed (as Herzog himself gets bitten).
And this has some intensity to it. One can readily imagine it set in its time as a masterpiece of true horror. But transporting ones vision back eighty years strains all the visceral pleasures away. Either way, this is pretty lame stuff now. Everyone should watch it — not for enjoyment but as a foundation for fuller realisation of what followed.
The one interesting thing here for me was the historical splinter of true magic: the Bulwer character. I think he is original to this version. He is based on the famous novelist Bulwer Lytton (influence of Henry Irving who Stoker managed), who cofounded a “magickal“ society based on stuff derived from cabala and celtic mysticism. This stuff was pretty potent in terms of its evil side and is the true incubator of the vampire myths.
Posted in 2004
Ted’s Evaluation — 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.
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