Uncovering the Terrifying Legacy of “Nosferatu” in Eggers’ New Film

Robert Eggers is known for his historical authenticity in his films. From the empty plains of 1630s New England in The Witch to the harsh, isolated lighthouse island in The Lighthouse, and the vast, brutal world of The Northman, Nosferatu definitely seems like it won’t be any different after seeing the trailer. The film promises to be a period piece, with attention to detail that extends from the use of natural and candlelight when in Transylvania to a focus on the occult fears of vampires in the 1800s. Eggers’ Count Orlok, while keeping some of his iconic design from the original 1922 film, is reimagined as a Transylvanian nobleman who has cheated death and is now darkly obsessed with a young woman oceans away. In preparation (and excitement) for the December release, I wanted to look into some of the history Eggers has talked about in recent interviews.

The Near-Miss of Cinematic History

The very existence of Eggers’ Nosferatu shows just how important preserving film history is. The original 1922 Nosferatu, directed by F. W. Murnau, was essentially an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. When Stoker’s widow, who was facing financial difficulties, discovered the film’s existence when she received a poster from its opening party, she took legal action and won. The court ordered all copies of the movie to be destroyed. However, against all odds, a few prints survived. These preserved copies not only allowed for the film’s eventual re-release but also paved the way for future adaptations of Dracula, including the famous Universal and Hammer depictions, as well as Eggers’ upcoming film.

The Evolution of Vampire Lore

Vampire mythology is diverse and there really isn’t an origin story to the creation of vampires, as various cultures have their own unique interpretations. Eggers’ Nosferatu, like Dracula, seems to draw primarily from Romanian and European vampire lore. In contrast to the more seductive vampires popularized by actors like Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, or Gary Oldman, Eggers aims to return to a more terrifying and primal version of the vampire.

In an interview with gamesradar, Eggers speaks about wanting to move away from the more romanticized (and sometimes sparkly) vampire of today.

“We’ve gone all the way to Edward Cullen, where vampires are not scary. So how do we go in the complete opposite direction of that? Vampires were scary enough that people used to dig up corpses and chop them into bits and set them on fire.”
…
“I think we deserve a scary, smelly corpse again,”.

The Past Vampire Beliefs

Eggers delves into the historical roots of vampire folklore, exploring why people were so terrified of the undead that they would go to extreme lengths to prevent corpses from rising. Early vampires were often described as bloated from drinking blood, with it oozing from their mouths or noses. Their appearance was more corpse-like and animalistic, with growing teeth, hair, and nails – either as a result of becoming a vampire or just from natural decomposition.

The fear of vampires rising from the grave led to various precautionary measures. People would bury corpses upside-down or place earthly objects near graves to appease any demons attempting to possess the body. The popular method of staking a vampire through the heart with a wooden stake was believed to “deflate” a bloated vampire. Decapitation was another common practice, with the head often placed between the feet to hasten the soul’s departure so it couldn’t be corrupted.

The Terrifying Power of Vampires

In more classic vampire lore, like in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, vampires were immensely powerful beings. Dracula himself was described by the character of Van Helsing as having the strength of twenty men, centuries of cunning, control over the dead, elements, and animals, and the ability to change size and vanish at will. Even the newly turned vampires, like Lucy in Dracula, were capable of causing significant harm.

Count Orlok will likely possess all these powers, along with the ability to bring plagues—like the Black Death carried by rats aboard ships. The movie aims to set the vampire back to its roots as a horrifying entity, one that inspires fear and the desperate measures people would take to keep it confined to the grave.

A Return to Terror

Robert Eggers aims to reintroduce audiences to the primal fear vampires once inspired. By drawing on historical beliefs and folklore, he’s moving away from the more romantic vampire towards a more obsessive, powerful, and intimidating entity. Combined with beautiful cinematography, sweeping landscapes, and the gorgeous gothic architecture of Pernštejn Castle from the original Nosferatu, Eggers is crafting a truly terrifying cinematic experience. As we wait these next couple of months for one of the creepiest Christmas presents of the year, lets remember the power of these vampiric creatures that used to truly captivate and frighten us.