F. W. Murnau's infamous silent feature Nosferatu - A Symphony of Horror celebrates its 100th year anniversary. Originally released in 1922, Nosferatu crawled out of the vampire novel into the big screen and gave the vampire narrative a new haunting life in cinema history.
Strongly influenced by Bram Stoker's ghastly novel Dracula, Nosferatu follows a young estate agent who travels to an isolated castle high in the Transylvanian Alps to meet his newest client - the strange Count Orlok. Not long into his trip he encounters the horrors of the night in the howls of werewolves, warnings of oracles and heart-pounding nightmares. It appears that the Count has a chilling fascination with blood - 'Blood is life,' he says. What could he mean?
The silent picture uses clever story-telling techniques to paint the terrors of Nosferatu while being cautious that the greatest fear is the one left to the imagination. Unlike many of todays monsters, the Nosferatu vampire moves in the shadows, his gimmicks are left for the viewer to interpret, and the silence of his victims echoes through the screen.
So whether you're a fan of silent cinema, or you don't know whether it's for you, Nosferatu can offer what many modern horror films can't, and go beyond. It's a priceless piece of classic filmmaking and one of the greatest horror creatures to ever haunt our screens, and dreams.
Ready to sink into this thrilling tale of blood-chilling terror?
Nosferatu has anniversary screenings in numerous cinemas around the globe all throughout March and April. And for those who prefer the emersion in the comfort of their own home - fear not! You can watch the full film for free on YouTube.
Watch Nosferatu - A Symphony of Horror (1922) here:
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