Nosferatu

2024 Focus Features

Rated: R

Length: 2 hr 12min

Gothic Horror ~ Supernatural Horror ~ Vampire Horror

Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson and Willem Dafoe.

Succumb To The Darkness

Nosferatu unfolds in 19th-century Germany, centering on Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), a young woman haunted by eerie nightmares and a psychic connection to the mysterious vampire Nosferatu. Ellen’s husband, Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult), a real estate agent, is sent to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a remote manor to the reclusive and terrifying Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). Despite warnings from locals, Thomas persists, unaware of the dark fate awaiting him and his family.

Upon meeting Count Orlok at his eerie castle, Thomas experiences increasingly disturbing events. Orlok exerts a malevolent influence, forcing Thomas to annul his marriage to Ellen through a strange document. While Thomas becomes physically weakened and trapped in the castle, Orlok sets off on a ship to Ellen’s town, Wisborg, carrying with him a devastating plague transmitted by rats. Ellen’s health deteriorates as she suffers from seizures and sleepwalking, under the vampire’s sinister spell.

As Orlok’s deadly presence spreads devastation through Wisborg, Ellen, along with her allies the doctor Wilhelm Sievers (Ralph Ineson) and occult scientist Albin Eberhart von Franz (Willem Dafoe), seeks to uncover a way to stop Nosferatu. They discover that Orlok’s power can only be ended by a willing sacrifice from a pure maiden. Ellen, driven by love and despair, makes a harrowing decision to confront Orlok on her own.

The tension crescendos as Ellen sacrifices herself, luring Orlok and stalling him until sunrise, ultimately ending his reign of terror. This act is both tragic and empowering, highlighting Ellen’s bravery and empathy amid chaos and loss. The film doesn’t shy away from exploring dark sexual themes, violence, and despair, pushing boundaries both visually and narratively.

Nosferatu is a triumph of horror craftsmanship, its moody visuals, gripping performances, and relentless sense of doom evoke the spirit of the original while giving it new life. While it lacks some visceral scares, it makes up for it in atmosphere and existential horror, a film not just about vampires but about loneliness, obsession, and sacrificial love. For fans of Gothic, Vampire and Supernatural Horror, Nosferatu delivers a chilling experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

TOP TEN UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTER MOVIES FOR HALLOWEEN

Abbott & Costello, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Vincent Price and Boris Karloff in these early classics were some of the first movies I watched as a kid. My introduction to horror and the macabre long before CGI and the special effects we have today. No Halloween would be complete without a look back at the classics. When I think of classic horror, these Universal Classic Monster Movies instantly come to mind.

These films, made from the late 1920s through the 1950s, introduced some of the darkest, most unforgettable creatures in cinema history. Dracula’s endless thirst, Frankenstein’s misunderstood monster, the tortured Wolf Man, and the chill of the Invisible Man, among others. Universal Pictures didn’t just create scary movies, they built a spooky world filled with gothic atmosphere, haunting music, and characters who were as tragic as they were terrifying.

What’s truly special about these monsters is that they’re more than just villains, they’re outsiders caught between worlds, struggling with their own nature and destiny. Over decades, these stories expanded with thrilling sequels, crossover battles, and even laugh-out-loud moments with Abbott and Costello, crafting one of the first shared cinematic universes. For any Halloween marathon or spooky movie night, these classics remain essential viewing, proving their magic to be timeless for horror fans old and new.

Top Ten Universal Classic Monster Movies

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NUMBER 10:

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

A comedic take where the famous duo encounters classic monsters, mixing laughs and scares. Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Béla Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph, Frank Ferguson and Vincent Price as the voice of The Invisible Man.

NUMBER 9:

House of Frankenstein (1944)

A rare monster team-up featuring Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, and the Wolf Man in one sinister tale. Starring Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine, Larry Talbot and Glenn Strange.

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NUMBER 8:

Revenge of the Creature (1955)

The aquatic beast returns, seeking survival and freedom from captivity. Starring: John Agar, Lori Nelson, John Bromfield and Nestor Paiva.

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NUMBER 7:

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

A prehistoric amphibious monster stalks and attacks a group of explorers in the Amazon. Starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, and Whit Bissell.

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NUMBER 6:

The Mummy (1932)

Kharis the undead is awakened by archaeologists, bringing ancient curses and mummy horror to life. Starring Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan, and Arthur Byron.

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NUMBER 5:

The Invisible Man (1933)

A scientist’s discovery leads to madness as he becomes unseen and untouchable, wreaking havoc. Starring Gloria Stuart, Claude Rains and William Harrigan.

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NUMBER 4:

The Wolf Man (1941)

Lon Chaney Jr. becomes the cursed werewolf, exploring themes of fate and uncontrollable transformation. Starring Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers, and Maria Ouspenskaya.

NUMBER 3:

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

A masterful sequel featuring the iconic creation of a mate for the monster, full of gothic atmosphere and dark emotion. Starring Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester, Colin Clive, Ernest Thesiger and Oliver Peters Heggie.

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NUMBER 2:

Frankenstein (1931)

Boris Karloff stars as the misunderstood monster created by Dr. Frankenstein, blending tragedy with terror. Also starring Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Dwight Frye, and Edward Van Sloan.

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NUMBER 1:

Dracula (1931)

Bela Lugosi’s chilling portrayal of the legendary vampire who terrorizes Victorian England. A cornerstone of classic horror. Starring Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan.

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Nosferatu Coming To Amazon Prime Friday June 27, 2025

Nosferatu is a 2024 American Gothic horror film written and directed by Robert Eggers. It is a remake of the film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), which was in turn inspired by Bram Stoker‘s novel Dracula (1897). It stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, and Willem Dafoe.

Nosferatu had its world premiere in Berlin on December 2, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States by Focus Features and internationally by Universal Pictures on December 25. It comes to streaming platform Amazon Prime on Friday June 27, 2025.

SYNOPSIS:

In the 1830s, estate agent Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting with Count Orlok, a prospective client. In his absence, Hutter’s new bride, Ellen, is left under the care of their friends, Friedrich and Anna Harding. Plagued by horrific visions and an increasing sense of dread, Ellen soon encounters an evil force that’s far beyond her control.