There have been a ton of incredible scary flicks launched in 2024, however for my cash, one of many greatest horror motion pictures of the yr was Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu–a horror remake that doesn’t suck! It’s a hauntingly stunning reimagining of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 basic. With Eggers on the helm, you get what you’d anticipate: impeccable consideration to element, an eerie environment, and a creeping sense of dread that seeps into your bones. What I didn’t anticipate, nevertheless, was the shockingly good connection he simply drew between Nosferatu and…Batman Returns. Sure, you learn that proper.
The Lighthouse film maker dropped this hilarious tidbit whereas reflecting on the influences that formed his snowy, Gothic masterpiece on the Completely satisfied Unhappy Confused Podcast. Apparently, it wasn’t till he was mid-flight that he realized the eerie similarities between his Nosferatu and Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. The Witch director shared:
I used to be watching on one among these flights… I threw on Batman Returns and, like, snowy, gothic, environment of that film is, it’s fairly like, shockingly much like quite a lot of the stuff we had been doing right here, which is one thing that I by no means actually thought-about in any respect. However Wayne Manor, like, doesn’t look a hell of lots totally different than Grűnewald Manor. I’ve received to say apart from falling aside. In order that was type of attention-grabbing.
Now that he’s pointed it out, it’s not possible to disregard the parallels. Give it some thought: Batman Returns (which I believe is one among Burton’s greatest motion pictures) is drenched in Gothic moodiness, from its snow-draped units to its shadowy, twisted structure. It feels much less like one thing you’d see in an upcoming superhero film and extra like a surreal opera staged in some Victorian fever dream.
Sound acquainted? The historic horror film maestro has mastered a lot of what trendy horror filmmakers have not, and his Nosferatu leans into the identical model of chilling ambiance, with crumbling castles and wintry landscapes that make you’re feeling such as you’re trapped in a perpetual midnight.
And the manor comparability? That’s lifeless on. Whereas grand and imposing, Wayne Manor is as a lot a Gothic character in Batman Returns as any of the movie’s villains. Its chilly halls and towering spires carry the burden of tragedy and thriller. In the meantime, Grűnewald Manor in Nosferatu exudes an identical sense of decayed grandeur with its crumbling facade and suffocating gloom. It’s virtually as if the 2 manors are cousins, separated by time and decay.
What’s fascinating right here is that the connection wasn’t intentional. Eggers has at all times drawn inspiration from historical past, folklore, and basic cinema (and sure, generally Sponge Bob), crafting worlds that really feel genuine but otherworldly. However his recognition of Burton’s affect, albeit unconscious, makes good sense. The 1992 Batman sequel isn’t only a superhero film—it’s a Gothic fairy story brimming with darkness and a surreal sense of magnificence. These qualities naturally resonate with the kind of immersive horror The Northman filmmaker creates.
The extra you dig into the comparability, the extra connections emerge. Burton’s Penguin, grotesque but tragic, shares thematic DNA with Eggers’ Rely Orlok, who’s each monstrous and pitiable. Each movies discover loneliness, energy, and the shadows that lurk inside us all. It’s a artistic bridge that makes you surprise: what different unlikely pairings would possibly we discover if we step again and let our imaginations roam?
Followers of Tim Burton’s tackle The Darkish Knight can revisit each of his movies with a Max subscription. As for Nosferatu, it’s nonetheless taking part in in theaters. Remember to take a look at our 2025 film schedule too, to see what upcoming horror motion pictures are headed to a theater close to you.