Since practically the start of cinema as an artwork type, vampires have been a staple of among the greatest horror motion pictures. So, after greater than a century of storytelling, the creatures of the night time have racked up fairly a steady of cliches. Fret not, although Robert Eggers’ upcoming Nosferatu reimagining is about to hit the 2024 film schedule. And the film director says that (like a vampire’s reflection), two main cliches won’t be making an look.
Think about the frequent parts of vampire lore: they’re undead beings, haven’t any reflection can rework into bats and, after all, drink blood. Nonetheless, this will likely not apply to Nosferatu. Not too long ago, Robert Eggers spoke with IndieWire about how he plans to make his upcoming horror movie distinct from others within the style. He talked about that step one in avoiding clichés is:
Vampires of folklore didn’t at all times even drink blood. Generally, they might strangle their victims. Generally, they might fornicate with their victims night time after night time till they died. And whereas it makes good anatomical sense, Anglo literary vampires would drink from the throat. However due to waking nightmares and outdated hag syndrome and the strain of that feeling in your chest, many kinds of folks vampires would drink from the chest, which is what I do within the film. So it was enjoyable to seek out the issues that had been extra primitive. As you watch the film, I hope you’re [saying]. ‘Oh, that is smart!
The director of The Witch drew inspiration for Rely Orlok from the unique folklore. Actually, that is to be anticipated from a filmmaker recognized for his meticulous consideration to element. But ingesting blood isn’t the one facet Eggers is altering up together with his upcoming book-to-screen adaptation. He went on to elucidate one other facet of the legend he intends to provide his tackle:
It’s not daylight; it’s simply the truth that it’s daybreak that kills him. Within the folklore — which we are saying in my movie, which is pre-Murnau — the vampire should return to its grave earlier than the primary crow of cock. So it’s not that vampires are allergic to daylight within the folklore, and that the solar burns and kills them. It’s that the purity and the redemption of daybreak doesn’t work for a demonic being.
I don’t learn about you, however this contemporary tackle a basic monster film has me so pumped. Even most of the greatest vampire motion pictures have relied on the identical lore for thus lengthy that these tropes are deeply embedded in our collective movie-watching minds. Seeing a grasp storyteller just like the Lighthouse director return to the fundamentals and current a vampire story with a singular twist on the lore is a improbable option to maintain audiences intrigued. It challenges what they suppose they know concerning the creatures of the night time.
As if I could not be extra enthusiastic about Nosferatu, Robert Eggers serves up a heaping serving to of “teaser pie.” Fortuitously, I will not have to attend for much longer, because the horror movie is about to hit theaters on Christmas Day, December twenty fifth. I am unable to consider a greater vacation reward. If the preliminary public reactions to Nosferatu are any indication, I am in for a improbable scary film! The distinctive tackle vampire lore is only a cheery on high of the pie.
Remember to take a look at our 2025 film schedule to see what different scary flicks are headed to theaters within the coming new yr.