NOSFERATU (1922)

You can get mental whiplash watching F. W. Murnau’s famous (and famously unauthorized) free-adaptation of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA brusquely pivot from primitive to sophisticated in ideas & film technique. Yet, in spite of gaffes, missing narrative segues & subfusc visuals (even in the best available 2006 restoration), enough sticks to make a memorable and oddly unsettling experience. Made viable by a general knowledge of the Dracula Myth, we can follow continuity jumps without losing the thread of action or mix up character relationships. And while UFA-style Expressionistic Acting, and typically unattractive German leads can be off-putting, as soon as the rat-like features of Max Schreck’s Graf Orlok (the Dracula figure) hit the screen, you’re instantly reeled in. A mesmerizing presence as is, Murnau adds on simple camera tricks, cantered angles & artfully positioned framing to creep us out, making him even more daemonic. And by the time we set sail on a death ship to Germany, Murnau is able to match conception with execution. Any lingering laughs suddenly stick in your throat.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: As a silent film that plays outside its niche market to HORROR fans, NOSFERATU holds the unintended consequence of misrepresenting the high technical level of 1922 German film. For a taste of how advanced the state of the art then was, try Fritz Lang’s stunning DR. MABUSE THE GAMBLER of the same year.     https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2011/02/dr-mabuse-1922-2nd-writeup.html