Fascination with Vampires

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The vampire never ceases to both fascinate and repulse. Eastern European folklore offered tales of reanimated corpses and blood-drinking spirits. In 1819, John Polidori’s The Vampyre was the first published vampire story. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897), still widely read today, established many enduring vampire tropes such as vulnerability to sunlight and the power of seduction.

In modern times, vampires gained popularity through the silent film Nosferatu (1922) and Hollywood adaptations of Dracula. Then came Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles and the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight novels featured a handsome and sexy vampire, Edward.

We can’t seem to get enough of vampires, which is why I went to see the new Nosferatu by director Dave Eggers. Gothic horror is not my preferred genre, but it was my turn to choose the film for our monthly three-person movie club and the pickings were slim at the Spectrum, the local independent theater we’ve vowed to support.

I found the movie much more compelling than I expected. It was neither hokey nor gory. It quivered between poles: both repulsive and seductive, both gorgeous and grotesque. It was visually stunning and unsettling throughout.

A brief plot synopsis: 1830s Germany–a distraught young woman, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), begs the universe for a spiritual connection. Her pleas awaken a mysterious evil creature who makes her pledge herself to him eternally. Fast forward a few years and Ellen is married to a fine young chap, Thomas, who is making his way as a solicitor. His boss sends him to a remote region to meet with Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) to finalize a real estate transaction, but Ellen begs him not to go because she’s been having dreams and visions of death and destruction. Of course, he goes, and leaves Ellen in the care of a friend and his wife.

Thus Thomas encounters the vampire, while Ellen suffers severe hallucinations. Orlok is every bit as menacing as you expect, physically dominant and revolting—as the dead tend to be—with a deep, menacing, mesmerizing voice. He attacks Thomas and then makes his way to Germany to consummate everlasting deadness with Ellen. Somehow we believe that Ellen can be seduced by this disgusting monster. Orlok brings with him the plague and the entire town is suffering. How to defeat Orlok? That becomes the story question as the final showdown approaches.

My main issue with the film is the last act felt too long. I kept waiting and waiting for the encounter between Ellen and Orlok, but other minor plot points slowed the pace and I became impatient. I was also underwhelmed by Willem Dafoe’s minor character as an occult expert who knows the secret to defeating Orlok. Seemed like Dafoe was going through the motions.

Do I recommend Nosferatu? If you like gothic horror and vampire tales, then definitely yes. Otherwise, maybe. The reviews have been solidly positive. Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgard are excellent in the starring roles. I would never have picked this movie to see if I wasn’t cornered into choosing something at the Spectrum, but I’m glad I saw it, and it seems to be sticking with me, especially at night, in the dark, in my dreams.

The movie club executive committee feeling cheery before the vampire movie.

By David Klein

David Klein

Published novelist, creative writer, journalist, avid reader, discriminating screen watcher.

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