Finally, we had the pleasure of watching Nosferatu, and from the very first scene, I was hooked! Watching it on IMAX (yipee) made it feel as though Count Orlok himself was whispering behind my neck—I shivered!
Even with the big, BIG screen, it was so, so, so intimate. It almost felt like a crime to share this moment with 60 other people in a theater because it was so personal! It felt as if the characters were speaking directly to me, revealing a terrible secret that no one else could know. I felt like I was being drawn into a confession—one that seemed like something I wasn’t supposed to hear. And worse… no one was frightened! Even though they were terribly ashamed.
The characters themselves are all weird, exactly as a filme de vampiro demands. But what makes it even more remarkable is remembering that this is the archetype of a vampire. In this story, no one knows what a vampire is before encountering Count Orlok. They don’t realize he’s undead, they know nothing—no garlic, no stakes… well, some stakes, but the wrong kind (though they don’t know it’s the wrong kind). And yet, you don’t sense ignorance in their behavior. Instead, there’s a mixture of fascination and the sheer pleasure of dread. None of the characters experience true terror; their expressions are always captivating, between trembling fear and the thrill of excitement. It’s impossible to tell if they want to scream or cheer. Honestly, same ;p
My only issue with the film was the characterization of Count Orlok. The Nosferatu of 1922 gave us a true creature—you couldn’t tell if it was a man, a human or a secret third thing. Even though he had deeply human emotions and desires (even the desperate need to drain the blood of the one you love, a feeling that feels relatable, right?), this version of Count Orlok felt too much like just a gross, evil dude. Even though he walked in darkness and was the shadow, he lacked the supernatural vibe. And honestly, the mustache didn’t help… can we talk about the mustache?
Still, I can’t stop thinking about the film. I replayed scenes in my head all night. Even now, I’m not sure if the film was truly in black and white or if it just felt like a dream.
Truly, the darkness is within us. Wishing all filme de vampiro fans out there a very spooky celebration! (㇏(•̀ᵥᵥ•́)ノ)