Nosferatu (1922)
Directed by: F. W. Murnau
To all appearances, Thomas Hutter feels at an all time high when he is sent to visit the wealthy yet mysterious Count Orlok. Count Orlok hopes to purchase a house in Wisborg. The excited and thrill of a new journey brings Hutter pure joy and thus he ventures forward!. He leaves behind his wife and promises to return. What Hutter neglects to realize is all the deterrent cues along the way! These cues do not frighten Thomas Hutter, no! As he bravely ventures forward he finally meets the mystical Count Orlok! Charmed of his arrival he seems to not only have eyes for Herr Hutter but for his beloved Ellen too? Who is this mysterious Count Orlok and what plans does he truly have for not only Hutter but the town of Wisborg? Tune in, and find out.
Nosferatu was one of the first films that left me bewitched from the moment I saw it several years ago. It was something completely different and new to me. The overall aesthetic of German expressionism horror hooked me in and I never looked back. The amount of ambiance that casted from frame to frame was mesmerizing! The unreal draw I could not escape; like Ellen I was left drawn to Nosferatu and I couldn't explain why. Perhaps, it was the brilliant use of cinematography, the astonishing use of mood, or perhaps the overall excellent casting of all the characters. No, perhaps there is this unexplained draw that like others after him pulls their audience and leaves them completely bewildered. The imagery is emblematic and haunting. There's this elegance this film truly has and for years no matter how many re-watches I still love it more than the last time I watched it. There's an inexpiable draw to Count Orlok and as the audience I believe it's left to the individual to determine.
9.7/10
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