Sometimes, a movie-maker getting the chance to work on their passion project can have mixed results. Their over-investment in the material can lead to bad decision-making. The early reviews for Robert Eggers’ remake of Nosferatu would indicate that he has avoided these traps. The reviews are very, very strong.
Bill Skarsgard, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor Johnson, and Willem Dafoe star in the film that remakes F.W. Murnau’s reimagined/changed for copyright purposes version of Dracula from 1922.
An early screening was held for selected outlets, and here are the reactions:
“Nosferatu displays Robert Eggers visionary creativity. Lily Rose Depp is superb. Willem Dafoe is having a blast. A major below the line player. There is a shot at the end which is incredibly inspired. Top notch filmmaking. Score, Production Design, Costumes, Make-up, and Cinematography, as always with Eggers films, masterful.”
Greg Ellwood, The Playlist
“Dread-soaked atmosphere, gorgeous cinematography and art direction, actors dialing their performances up to 11 – it’s a very serious, reverential approach. Overall it succeeds as a tastefully gloomy retelling of a story we all know by now; like a good cover of a famous song, it hits all the notes it has to without needing to add much else.”
Eric Walkuski, JoBlo.com
“Robert Eggers continues his impressive streak of crafting highly detailed and transportive period films with NOSFERATU, one of the most seductively macabre films ever made…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.”
Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
“Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu goes HARDER than any other horror film this year. Holy f—. 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… incorporates breathtaking homages to Murnau’s masterpiece with thoughtful thematic artistry.”
Courtney Howard, Variety
“Nosferatu is paralyzing fear fully realized under the vision of writer and director Robert Eggers. Dude is just clearing his throat in cinema. He hasn’t yet begun to sing, and I’m digging all of his numbers. Bill Skarsgård is menacing while Lily-Rose Depp is haunting. Every movie gets automatically upgraded simply because Willem Dafoe is in it. An artisan wet dream. Gorgeous and horrifically brilliant. I’m a fan.”
Clayton Davis, Variety
“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.”
Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
Nosferatu lands on Christmas Day, for a really weird family day out.