Nosferatu Reviews

No where near as good as I was expecting it to be, I wasn't really consintrating so I had no idea what was going on!

Shivers

I still get shivers every time I see that shadow climbing the stairs!

Such a great film and it goes to show that you don't have to have blood spurting everywhere to make a good horror movie. I can't understand how people can get so offended by the music. I actually enjoyed the music but if you don't like it, is it really too hard to press mute? As for the story screens not being in German, I can't read German, so bonus for me.

The reason I rented this DVD was because I had seen the film 'Shadow of the Vampire'. A fictional story about the filming of 'Nosferatu' where Orlok is in fact a real vampire. After you've rented this why not take a look at Shadow of the Vampire for another angle to the story.

Oh so eerie!

Nosferatu may have been made in the 1920s but it still has the power to chill your spine. Best watched in a dark room with the odd candle burning for a fuller effect. Max Schreck, who plays the vampire, Count Orlok, a.k.a Nosferatu, deserves special credit for his superb portrayal as the fiendish blood-sucker. Watch out for the hand and facial gestures: without those, the vampire would not look menacing at all. As for the soundtrack, this only enhances the tension build up in the film and fits in with the overall atmosphere of the film. Definitely worth a watch!

Shadows

This classic still has power even after all these years, but watch out for the awful modern soundtrack that has been added. Best watched on mute.

The greatest film of the silent period

I am a great fan of the silent film and especially Murnau the director of this movie. This is by far my favourite film of his. Some say this is not his greatest work and his later films like'The Last Laugh' and sunrise are better the it.

But there is something so creepy so weird about this movie that just makes me love it more everytime I view it. It may be a shock a second gore fest like you may be used to now but there is something about it that stays with me and effects me far more than a modern film ever could.

Acting wise it may look rather dated to some people, but the performance by Max Shereck is superbly creepy and far superior to the camp draculas of Bela Lugosi and Chris Lee.

Watch this movie be amazed and see one of the greatest horror films ever made.

I only wish it WAS a silent movie. The film itself is a classic - faultless with real artistry in the camerawork and framing. I have teenage kids and the moment when Hutter opens the door and saw Orlok staring gave them all a chill, or would have done if it wasn't for the truly awful soundtrack. I was lucky enough to have caught this late one night on telly with a proper piano soundtrack, as would it would have been 80 years ago. Instead some complete idiot has put synthesised noodling all over the thing. I swear that at one point he must have put a brick on the keyboard and nipped off for a curry. What a real shame. Get it out by all means, but keep the sound switched off.

The original Dracula film!

One of the most impressive silent features ever created! This is a brilliant (although unofficial!) adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, directed by one of the masters who emerged from the German exprexionist movement, F.W. Murnau. This truly is the predecessor of all modern horror films, with imagery which has stood the test of time and is present in virtually every horror film produced. This film is also responsible for many of the vampire myths which have not only permeated other Dracular films, but today's popular culture also. However, the one thing that is not good about this DVD is the dreadful soundtrack which has been produced. Definately watch this one on mute!

Ode to the dark prince

The original and the best, the unsurpassable silent masterpiece that spawned its own genre...this moody atmospheric work is a vital must see, watch it and be in awe - listen to it and be driven mad...

Atmospheric horror classic

Numerous scenes in this landmark of the silent cinema have gone down in history, and Fast Show parody.

For an 80-year old film almost lost forever (Stoker's widow wanted all prints destroyed) it's been very well restored. The only jarring note is the new electronic soundtrack, which at times is obtrusive and barely sympathetic to the mood of scenes.

Beautifully haunting cinematography and painterly compositions, together with an unforgettable performance in the title role, make this a must-see.

Shame about the music though.

[Highly rated reviewer]

B&W Disc

I agree with the below, the soundtrack is truly AWFUL! I think there's a high pitched synthetic 'drone' for about half the film! It ruins it completely. There are other DVDs with the original score around. For some reason coloured hues have also been added to some shots, seemingly at random, which really cheapens it. Modern titles have had very cheap 'ageing' effects put over the top. There's no option to watch it as it was intended.

Thumbs down to Eureka entertainment for mucking about a classic. The version available for free on google video is better. Boo.

There are websites which compare the prints and scores of DVD releases.