For horror fans, Robert Eggers‘ “Nosferatu” remains the final most anticipated movie of 2024. And several questions abound before it arrives in theaters on Christmas Day. How will it stack up against F.W. Murnau‘s original and subsequent remakes? Will Eggers rebound critically and commercially after the meek box office run of “The Northman“? And is there an eager audience for an old-school gothic period-piece in the mid-2020s?
All of that and more will be answered in about six weeks, but the press reactions after last night’s advance screenings of “Nosferatu” might clue moviegoers in on what to expect from Eggers’ latest. And the consensus verdict? Unanimous praise across the board, with critics calling the film “a period delight,” “Eggers’ most assured work,” and “a major below the line player.” And almost everyone praised Lily-Rose Depp‘s turn as Ellen Hutter, with many seeing her performance as an awards season favorite. That news should thrill everyone from gore hounds to general audience members to those who want to see sturdy, formally exacting narrative filmmaking from a contemporary director who does it best.
Set in mid-18th-century Europe, the official logline for “Nosferatu” calls the film “a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.” Nicholas Hoult stars as Jonathan Hutter, whose real estate contract with Bill Skarsgård‘s Count Orlok incites the vampire passion for Hutter’s wife, Ellen (Depp). Additional cast includes Willem Dafoe as Van Helsing, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Ineson, Emma Corrin, and Simon McBurney. Along with directing, Eggers also pens the film’s script.
But let’s see what various critics had to say about “Nosferatu.” First up: The Film Stage’s Jordan Raup, who wrote, “Nosferatu: strangely comforting this week to watch a film that feels conjured from the darkest depths of pure evil. Eggers’ most assured work, one in which you can feel his obsessions flow through every nocturnal frame. Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgård are out of this world.”
The Playlist’s own Gregory Ellwood wrote, “Nosferatu displays Robert Eggers visionary creativity. Lily Rose Depp is superb. Willem Dafoe is having a blast. A major below the line player. Could it crack BP? Hmmmm. Rose Depp has a shot in packed supporting actress race.”
Playlist Editor-in-Chief Rodrigo Perez described the film as “a masterful, unnerving, spine-tingling gothic horror of the highest order; Robert Eggers’ best film. Surprise amazing performance from Lily Rose-Depp, everyone is terrific. Riveting, hypnotic, amazing craft on every level including impressive camera work.”
Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis called the film a “gorgeous and horrifically brilliant,” and described Depp is “haunting” and Skarsgård is “menacing.” Variety senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay also loved the movie, which she called “a perfect remake.”
IndieWire was a publication particularly effusive with its praise. Editor Anne Thompson wrote, “Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is a period delight, a fantastic horror tale exquisitely mounted and efficiently told. It’s historically authentic with a strong English-accented cast. He first saw Murnau’s Nosferatu at age 9.” Contributor Tomris Laffly called the film, “A moody, gothic, EROTIC horror with sharp teeth—grabs you by the throat, takes its time. Between this & Juror #2, Nicholas Hoult is killing it. Bill Skarsgård…you have to see for yourself. But the main attraction to me is Lily-Rose Depp.” And IndieWire’s chief film critic David Ehrlich said he’s “relatively confident that Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu has more writhing sweatily in bed than any other movie ever made (complimentary).”
More critical takes of “Nosferatu” are on Twitter for readers’ perusal. Robert Eggers’ film hits theaters everywhere on Christmas Day. Watch a trailer for the gothic horror below.
