EntertainmentMoviesHorror MoviesNosferatuNosferatu director explains why he wanted to keep Bill Skarsgård’s Orlok look secret – and hopes audiences respect itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesHorror MoviesNosferatuNosferatu director explains why he wanted to keep Bill Skarsgård’s Orlok look secret – and hopes audiences respect itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Universal)
“Focus Features and Universal were both also very much on the same page as myself,” The Witch director tells GamesRadar+. “Basically, we have a new look for the vampire and you want people to be excited and you want that to build the tension. It’s even like that in the film, Orlok tries to stay in the shadows because he doesn’t want his house guest to know that he’s been invited to the castle of the living corpse. You would probably want to keep that a secret yourself.”
Eggers is also hopeful that the look remains a secret for all theater goers, which is an especially hot topic right now withdebates raging about taking photos in cinemas on social media. “I mean, I think it’s respectful to the film and the filmmakers,” he replies when we ask if he hopes that Nosferatu stays offline, “Absolutely.”
As the director hints, while Nosferatu’s plot follows the original silent film quite closely, Count Orlok’s look is very different in this iteration. And Eggers has been open about his hopes to introduce a different kind of vampire than seen in pop culture, taking the monster back to its folkloric roots.
This isn’t to say, The Lighthouse director adds, that there isn’t space for both. “I don’t necessarily need to be changing vampires for the history of vampires, and there’s room for Edward Cullen and there’s room for Blade and there’s room for all these different kinds of vampires,” he adds. “But it’s nice to see, for me, personally, a vampire that is a folkloric vampire, and a Dracula that looks like he could have been a Lord of Transylvania.”
Alongside Skarsgård as the leading undead vampire, Nosferatu also stars Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin. The horror movie begins with Hoult’s young realtor sent to meet a mysterious Count in Transylvania who is harboring a dark secret obsession.
Nosferatu is released in US theaters on Christmas Day and UK cinemas on New Year’s Day. You can read ourNosferatu reviewhere. For more scares, check out our guides toupcoming horror moviesand thebest horror moviesof all time.
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Nosferatu ending explained: your biggest questions answeredNosferatu star Lily-Rose Depp shares the deep-cut detail in Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok look that makes him so “freaky”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”