Nosferatu - Eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

 

Legendary. There is probably no better way to describe this absolute masterpiece. Heck, it's been over a hundred years and it still speaks to people's imaginations and whoever has seen it, can only agree it stood the test of time for all the right reasons. 

So many indelible images, so much atmosphere. 

So much wow.

What can be said about this one that hasn't been said already? 

Well, let's try for those that haven't seen it yet.

Even though this takes place in Germany and the names have been altered, this is the story of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Legal issues prevented Murnau from using the original names, but the story is the same. A young and dapper real estate agent is sent to distant Transylvania in order to have a mysterious Count Orlok buy property in Wisborg. Of course this count is a vampire, even though our young hero has no idea. It merely seems as though the elderly gentleman is rather quaint. However, nightmares haunt our friend's dreams and when he sees things that couldn't possibly be real, his sanity starts to crumble and he knows he has to return home to save his loved one from this menace.

Meanwhile, the Count makes the crossing on the Empusa, killing the crew during the voyage. Not only that, but the places he passed through are stricken with the plague, something which also happens as soon as he lands in Wisborg and begins to stalk people and our young protagonist's wife in particular. 

Can the monster be stopped and the plague ended?

It's astounding to see how much the fact that this is a silent film works in the story's advantage. The images are suitably creepy and the play of shadows adds an uneasy atmosphere to it all. German expressionism for the win! The acting is exaggerated, as facial expressions are needed to bring everything across. You can't act understated in this sort of production. 

Of course, who shines the most is actor Max Schrek as Count Orlok. His makeup makes him look like a rat (because plague) and it is one of the most - if not thé - memorable monsters from history. The way he moves, gazes at people, stiltedly stalks across the screen: nightmare fuel. 

And even after such an immensely long time this doesn't feel aged that much. You can still watch this and enjoy it. Films not even a quarter of its age have often lost that sense of wonder. Not so here. Horror fans, film enthusiasts, everyone should have seen this at least once.