'NOSFERATU' REVIEW: Director Robert Eggers' Latest Gothic Tale Starts Strong, Then Falters [3/5]
Major Players Include Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, and Garlic
[Rating 3/5] - dir. Robert Eggers - 2024 - United States - R - 2h 12m - Gothic Horror
There is a lot to love in myth-obsessed Robert Eggers’ latest gothic outing Nosferatu. A re-telling of the famous vampire legend, this is a feast for the not so small number of film lovers who want a return to the sword-and-sandals, adventure melodrama era.
The Northman (2022), Eggers’ previous film, was a stylish, Gladiator-esque big swing into the world of Norse mythology, full of great talent, but ultimately less-than when compared to his initial one-two punch: The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019) — character driven interpersonal dramas let loose atop the barest of plot.
Here is this film’s plot: Nicholas Hoult plays an up-and-coming gentlemen/lord type who’s married to a relatively dour young woman (Lily-Rose Depp), who at an early age experienced something like a possession. Since then, the feeling has haunted her.
Due to financial constraints, Hoult is essentially at the mercy of his boss’s whims. The boss offers him a job that will solve his money problems: “Sell the decrepit home, Grünewald Manor, to the reclusive ‘Count Orlok’” (more about him later).
Nosferatu possesses some of the unique filmmaking flare that made The Witch and The Lighthouse so exhilirating and fresh, but too often it tries to balance out those qualities with the broad scope of The Northman — and so it over stays its welcome. Every part of Nosferatu is good, it’s just… too much; like a rich cake, I’ve had more than enough after two pieces — or in this case hours.
The fat is in the middle. Eggers does not write economically. He likes the fat. That’s fine, but it’s got to be more spread out. There is an urgency to the beginning of Nosferatu and an other-worldy beauty to the end.
The middle lacks any extraordinary quality. It’s just “more of”.
At its best, Nosferatu reminds me of the most unsettling, adult parts of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring world. At its worst, it reminds me why movies like this aren’t often given a big budget, or a chance at all.
I suppose we’re lucky some directors under 60 still have the cache to make films like this happen, even if they aren’t complete successes.
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P.S. Special mention must go to the depiction of the man/creature himself, Orlock. The first few scenes with the Count (an unrecognizable Bill Skarsgård, famous for playing the It clown) are amongst the creepiest, most intoxicating, operatic, gothic scenes I have ever been witness to; however, I think the depiction of him / “Nosferatu” loses its edge the more we see. I think if they’d gone the Jaws route it would’ve been more successful (and suspenseful).
But I suppose that’s a stylistic choice. Eggers is never afraid of showing, as opposed to implying (like I’m suggesting), and in fairness to him, his visions are often the best parts of his filmmaking, a little like Guillermo Del Toro.
P.P.S. I am at a total loss as to whether Aaron Taylor-Johnson (he basically plays Hoult’s Lord bestie) is a great or terrible actor. Is he excellent in this, or corny and cartoonish? Is he great because he’s those things!? No one knows, not even Aaron.
P.P.P.S. The nudity in this seemed kind of pointless. The nudity at the end of The Witch signifies something(s) clearly. It’s revelatory and relevant to the story. But Anya Taylor-Joy naked at the end of The Northman? And this? The lady on the horse, and Lily-Rose Depp? For what? At best, the same Witch reasoning can be applied to Nosferatu (shedding an old self and embracing a new self). I’m no puritan, and these are beautiful women, but, it seems to be a consistent aspect of Eggers films that doesn’t get as much scrutiny as his others. If it’s just for a little eye candy, okay, but be forthright about that reasoning. Don’t hedge it in somewhat holier-than-thou poetic folk dramatics.
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‘Nosferatu’ is out now.
Selected Movie Quote: “Do not tell me you believe in such Medieval devilry!”
[Rating 3/5] - dir. Robert Eggers - 2024 - United States - R - 2h 12m - Gothic Horror