Review: Eggers' Nosferatu Film

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Post on Jan 22, 2025

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Review: Eggers' Nosferatu Film - A Bloody Good Time, or a Vampiric Snoozefest?

Okay, folks, let's talk about Robert Eggers' new Nosferatu. I’ve been a huge fan of Eggers since The Witch, so I went into this with mega-high expectations. And honestly? It was… a lot. This ain’t your grandma’s Nosferatu, let me tell ya. It’s a visually stunning, intensely atmospheric, and at times, brutally slow-burn experience. Think less sparkly vampire and more straight-up terrifying monster movie.

The Good Stuff: Atmosphere & Visuals

First off, the visuals are breathtaking. Seriously, breathtaking. Eggers clearly poured his heart and soul (and probably a whole lot of money) into the production design. Every frame looks like a gothic painting come to life, detailed down to the smallest cobblestone. The set design is spot-on; the costumes? To die for! (Pun intended, obviously). This movie is gorgeous in a dark, unsettling kind of way. The cinematography, man, the cinematography… It perfectly captures the film's unsettling atmosphere. I mean, that scene in the crypt? Chills. Absolute chills. It's the kind of movie where you're constantly on the edge of your seat, even when nothing much is actively happening. That's the power of atmosphere, people!

I also appreciated the attempt to be true to the original Nosferatu. They even kept a lot of the original silent film's iconic shots, updating them for a modern audience, it's like they're whispering to the past. Pretty cool for a horror film remake. I loved this detail, personally, and it definitely paid off in creating that unsettling atmosphere.

The Not-So-Good Stuff: Pacing & Length

But here's where things get tricky. My biggest criticism? The pacing. Oh boy, the pacing. This movie moves at a glacial pace. I know, I know, slow-burn horror is a thing, and it can work. But this felt, at times, excruciatingly slow. There were long stretches where, frankly, not much happened. I mean, I almost fell asleep in one scene. Almost. And at nearly three hours, its length certainly doesn't help things. I’m usually a fan of longer films, but in this case, it felt like a significant chunk could've been trimmed.

A Personal Anecdote (and a Valuable Lesson Learned)

I'll be honest; I almost walked out. Yep, I, a self-proclaimed horror aficionado, almost gave up on a horror movie because it was too slow. I'd hyped myself up so much based on Eggers' previous work, that the pacing felt like a real betrayal. I ended up sticking with it, though, and I'm glad I did (mostly). It taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes, you gotta push through the slow bits to get to the payoff, even if the payoff is a little… uneven.

Overall: A Masterpiece in Visuals, But a Mixed Bag

So, is Eggers' Nosferatu a masterpiece? It's a tough call. On one hand, the visuals and atmosphere are phenomenal. It’s a film that will stay with you, visually. On the other, the pacing is glacial and the length is excessive. It's a visually stunning piece of cinematic art, but it needs a bit of a trim. I'd recommend it to fans of slow-burn horror who have the patience of a saint. For others? Maybe wait for a rental and prepare yourself for a long, moody night. But hey, at least the cinematography is killer, right?

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.