Do we have a modern horror classic on our hands? DirectorRobert Eggersreturns to the genre he has already shown an affinity for in the likes ofThe WitchwithNosferatu, which has now screened for critics who have since taken to X/Twitter to share their reactions. And it sounds like the filmmaker has done it again, and then some.
We begin withCourtney Howard, who declares that Nosferatu goes “harder” than any other horror movie so far this year, withBill Skarsgård delivering a performancethat is nothing less than “nightmare fuel.”
“Robert Eggers’ #Nosferatu goes HARDER than any other horror film this year. Holy fuck. A gorgeous grotesquerie of dread-infused terrors & a divine dark delight. Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok is pure sinister nightmare fuel. Lily Rose Depp & Nicholas Hoult’s best work to date.”
The praise for the cast continues courtesy of The Playlist’sGregory Ellwood, who thinks several of the stars, particularly Lily-Rose Depp, should be in the Oscars conversation.
“Nosferatu displays Robert Eggers visionary creativity. Lily Rose Depp is superb. Willem Dafoe is having a blast. A major below the line player. Could it crack BP? Hmmmm. Rose Depp has a shot in packed supporting actress race. #Oscars”
Variety’sJazz Tangcay, continues the applause for Depp before declaring thatNosferatuis “a perfect remake.”
“Arise #Nosferatu. Devilishly bloody and grotesque. Superbly crafted film and great sound design couple with a haunting score. Lily-Rose Depp’s performance is thoroughly gripping. Robert Eggers delivers a perfect remake.”
While Gizmodo’sGermain Lussierfelt that Eggers has made better movies, he nevertheless foundNosferatuto be a horror “knockout.”
“Robert Eggers’ #Nosferatu is a knockout. Gory, creepy, propulsive, with a hint of devilish humor. Lily-Rose Depp is fantastic as the woman at the center of it all and Bill Skarsgard’s vampire is wholly unique and grounded. Not my favorite Eggers but excellent nevertheless.”
Nosferatu Is Due To Terrify Theaters on Christmas Day
CriticJoey Magidson, meanwhile, found Eggers to be a “good match” for the remake ofthe 1922 vampire tale, though did warn that the pace of the movie may “test” some viewers.
“Nosferatu is unfiltered Robert Eggers. He’s a good match for the material, which he allows to breathe in a way that may test impatient audience members, but rewards those willing to get on his wavelength. Gross and weird, but also classically haunting.”
Finally, Next Best Picture’sMatt Negliacontinued the praise for Depp and Skarsgård, callingNosferatu“one of the most seductively macabre films ever made.”
“Bill Skarsgård’s dark, alluring performance, the grotesque makeup, atmospheric sound design, Jarin Blaschke’s spellbinding cinematography & Robin Carolan’s haunting score all come together to reimagine a gothic classic, culminating in a breathtaking final shot that sent chills through my body as I left the theater. I cannot wait to succumb to the darkness all over again.”
Written and directed by Robert Eggers, who has stunned, terrified, and unsettled audiences in equal measure with his previous moviesThe Witch,The Lighthouse, andThe Northman,Nosferatuboasts a stellar cast that includes Bill Skarsgård (John Wick: Chapter 4, Boy Kills World), Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Mad Max: Fury Road), Lily-Rose Depp (The Idol, The King), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven the Hunter, Bullet Train), Emma Corrin (Deadpool & Wolverine, The Crown), Ralph Ineson (The Witch, The Green Knight), Simon McBurney (Hijack, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), and Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). You can check out the synopsis for the horror outing below.
“Robert Eggers’ NOSFERATU is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.”
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
