Nosferatu is getting remade again. There have been several movies centering around the story of Count Orlok and vampires. Nosferatu (2024) is a direct remake and a modern retelling of the original, but I'm sure it will put its own creative spin on the famous tale.
Other inspired films include Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), Shadow of the Vampire (2000), Vampire in Venice (1988), Transylvania Twist (1989), and of course Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024). They all follow a similar plot of a couple separated by Count Orlok, who is looking for a home in the local village. Orlok usually goes after the wife and torments her. Eventually, Count Orlok’s evil powers seep into the city, affecting all of the villagers.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is a German silent film from 1922 that is an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. The film is in black and white and completely silent, apart from an orchestra score. Nosferatu is a significant part of film history, considered to be one of the first horror movies ever made and the first ever vampire movie. Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau directed and wrote the story, but Dracula was the main inspiration. The story of Nosferatu is broken down into 5 acts.
The story follows the same plot as Bram Stoker's Dracula. Thomas Hutter is requested to sell a house to Count Orlok. In order to seal the deal, he must travel far to meet with him. Upon his arrival, he notices Orlok's strange behavior and comes to the conclusion that the legend is true and he is a vampire. Hutter worries for his wife Ellen and must find a way to save the town from Count Orlok's corruption.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is the first of its kind and helped make the horror genre what it is today. The cinematography still holds up even now, some of the shots are so well done and showcases just how creepy Count Orlok can be. Murnau successfully uses light and shadow to accomplish the unsettling atmosphere and frightening nature of vampires.
Is this movie necessary to watch in order to understand and enjoy Robert Eggers' Nosferatu? No. However, I would still recommend watching it beforehand in order to really appreciate the story and how it has evolved over a century.
The stories seem to be very similar in nature and Eggers also leans into the use of light and shadow to really emphasize the power of Orlok. Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is still an essential movie that any horror fan should watch at least once in their lifetime. I would also recommend watching the film adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula as well as the Spongebob Squarepants episode "Graveyard Shift" (I'm kidding, partially).