Nosferatu

Still as good as when I watched it for the first time. Max Schreck is amazing and scary looking, well more creepy looking and it works. The silence really helps creating such an creepy atmosphere. The shadows, Nosferatu rising up from his grave, the rats, the music, everything works.

This is one of my favorite silent films, time flies watching this Murnau masterpiece. And I truly believe it is an essential watch for any film fan. A film based on Bram Stoker's novel before we got the standard set by Bela.

I just simply can not do this film more justice. You just have to see it. In the dark, with surround sound!

Nosferatu is on the short list of must-see movies. The story is classic, the imagery is sensational, and the influence is unmeasurable. Few have been better cast than Max Schreck. If you have not seen this film, remedy that immediately.

One of the absolute best, horror movies created. I think I’ve watched this about 50x now

Watched colorized version on Amazon Prime in Dec 2024. Not unaltered B & W version of film. Should probably give this one another try with B & W edition in a dark room.

It is simple marvelous! I loved it!

"Nosferatu" is a milestone from every possible viewpoint and it's one of those very few movies I think everybody should view at least once.

The original title of the film is Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens.

A masterpiece for horror and silent films. This movie is definitely creepy and gives a whole new meaning to horror. Max Schreck is created a masterpiece playing Nosferatu...he is scary! A must watch for film buffs.

Is a gem of silent cinema and a fundamental piece in the history of horror films. This unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's _Dracula_ not only brought the iconic vampire Count Orlok to the screen but also laid the groundwork for many genre conventions that endure to this day.

One of the most fascinating aspects of _Nosferatu_ is its innovative use of cinematic techniques to create an eerie and supernatural atmosphere while reinforcing the sense that the antagonist does not belong to the world of the living. In one of the most memorable scenes, fast motion and negative image techniques are used to show Count Orlok's carriage, giving it a ghostly and otherworldly aura. Similarly, the use of stop-motion to animate the coffins arranging themselves in the coach adds an additional layer of surrealism and terror to the film. Another striking technique is the use of image superimposition to achieve the effect of Count Orlok's disappearance. Additionally, shadows play a crucial role in creating tension and horror, with the elongated and sinister shadows of the vampire moving unnaturally and almost becoming characters in their own right, amplifying the viewer's fear.

Despite the metalinguistic limitations imposed by the absence of sound, the film holds its own through its innovative use of intertitles and color filters, demonstrating that silent cinematic language can be highly effective. The film employs a variety of intertitle designs, including the typical black intertitle for dialogues, book pages, letters, newspapers, and even a logbook. This diversity is not just stylistic but also functional, as the narrative of _Nosferatu_ adopts the epistolary novel structure of _Dracula_. Similarly, the use of color filters is another innovative aspect: the red filter, although not entirely clear, seems to indicate danger, yellow represents the day, and blue the night. This use of color not only helps viewers orient themselves temporally but also intensifies the emotions associated with each scene. The film also uses Enochian language in letters, adding a level of esotericism. Moreover, as if that were not enough, _Nosferatu_ presents several open timelines, contributing to a rich and complex narrative that seeks to emulate the novel.

[spoiler]To conclude, Murnau introduced the concept of lethal photosensitivity, akin to kryptonite for Superman, in vampires; an idea that has remained in vampire tradition to this day. Additionally, a fascinating detail is that Nosferatu reflects in the mirror, an intriguing deviation from what is now a vampire tradition.[/spoiler]

In closing, it is worth noting that despite his iconic presence, Count Orlok appears on screen for only 10 minutes, demonstrating that less is more when it comes to generating terror.

I think horror is the genre that lends itself best to silent film. So much interplay between light and shadow, makeup techniques that are ahead of their time, great costumes, etc. Nosferatu, like Caligari before it, uses the heightened reality of expressionism to create a shock value that still stuns today. Schreck's performance is super creepy, and the use of shadow in the last 10 minutes creates images I won't soon forget. Loved it.