Perfect for a dark and stormy night with popcorn and wax vampire fangs — hopefully not at the same time — is the original 1922 “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” directed by F. W. Murnau. The movie bests the 2024 remake “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, in every way possible. It’s not even a contest, it’s a bloodbath.
While some younger people might only recognize the original Count Orlok — the vampire known as Nosferatu — from the SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Graveyard Shift,” the 1922 Orlok is sure to change that SpongeBob smile to a shriek with his eerie and unsettling presence.
Throughout his scenes, the lanky but terrifying Orlok towers over his victims with his bushy eyebrows, black coat, sharp but few teeth and long, claw-like fingers. This differs greatly from the 2024 Orlok, not only because the newest Orlok was nude. The original felt less like a campy movie monster and more like a horrifying entity ready to drain the blood of his victims.
The 1922 film masterfully used makeup, prosthetics and camera angles to display the stalking Orlok without the use of CGI, as the technology was not available at the time. The prosthetics emphasize Orlok’s haunting features without overdoing it.
The practical effects of the 1922 “Nosferatu,” although primitive compared to our modern technology, do a greater job at immersing the audience in the world of 1838 Europe than the remake could.
The original “Nosferatu” is a silent film, meaning there is no sound or dialogue present. Title cards only add to the atmosphere, as well as the gritty, jerky motions of the film, which transport the audience to the 1830s with techniques 100 years closer to its period. The modern film techniques used in the 2024 version, conversely, look identical to every other horror movie.
The 1922 original is undoubtedly original and authentic to this day.
The dialogue displayed on the title cards is unsettling and keeps audience members at the edge of their coffins. Early on in the film, one of Orlok’s minions, Herr Knock, says to one of the protagonists, “You might have to go to a bit of trouble … a little sweat … a little blood,” before he ventures out to meet Orlok. While the dialogue of the film can seem silly at times, it’s silly in a way that is unique and absent from many million-dollar films today.
The yellow, blue, red and brown tints over the 1922 black-and-white film contribute to its immersive effect. As typically seen in German expressionist silent films of the time, these vibrant colors guide the audience to feel the horror felt in Orlok’s victims. Whenever a scene adopts a blue tint, a terrifying dream sequence occurs with an approaching Orlok with his claws extended.
Without this coloring, the 2024 film isn’t Nosferatu, it’s just a silly vampire movie.
To make up for the lack of sound, composer Hans Erdmann crafted a brilliant and unsettling score for the 1922 film. Although most of the original score was lost, the remaining score was crafted out of Erdmann’s other music. The result is beautiful, with light flutes and violins during happy scenes and harsh staccato cello during scary scenes.
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In the beginning of the film, one of the protagonists, Thomas Hutter, travels to Transylvania to Orlok’s castle in the mountains. During his travels, the audience is immersed in steady snare and powerful oboe that replicates the sounds of the Balkans.
If you set aside the general atmosphere and almost everything else in the 1922 “Nosferatu,” the remake does have the original beat in terms of the theme of sexuality. While sexuality is an undertone in the 1922 “Nosferatu,” with lines like “Your wife has a lovely neck,” its remake emphasizes the theme and makes it inseparable from the story.
This consistent theme helps audiences understand Nosferatu's intentions, which was more difficult in the original. The remake does well with establishing the theme early and bolstering it until the film's climactic end.
The combination of the eerie visual style, expressive use of color and Erdmann's evocative score in the 1922 “Nosferatu” creates an experience that bites into the viewer, transcends the limitations of its time and continues to lurk in the minds of audiences today. For those seeking a true vampire experience, the 1922 classic remains a must-watch. It’s not just a film, it’s an experience that has staked its claim and survived for over a century.
Nate Bernard is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @natebernard14
