u/ExitDry1924 — reddlx

Eggers’ Nosferatu is the culmination of his first three films, driven by an obsessive desire to provide a new layer of meaning to this acclaimed cinematic masterpiece. His previous works are, in a way, incorporated into Nosferatu, as if everything before it was a preparation—which, in fact, it was—for his greatest ambition (or perhaps, obsession).

The Witch (2015) gave Nosferatu its tense, brooding atmosphere—that constant feeling that something terrible is about to happen and that something even worse is watching from the shadows. The Lighthouse (2019) provided a heightened sense of stylization; it’s widely agreed that it was his most daring project until then, crafted with a very specific aesthetic in mind that permeates the entire film. The Northman (2022) gave Nosferatu its grandeur; while not a typical epic, the scale of that film is colossal.

The 2024 Nosferatu is atmospheric, uniquely stylish, and grand, yet it would still lack a justification for a new version of this classic if it weren't for Eggers' obsession, which gave the project its soul. Eggers' film speaks volumes about a specific obsession (one we could debate endlessly: toxic relationships, repressed desire, incest... the possibilities are many), but what truly grounds this project is the female role throughout the movie. She ceases to be a damsel in distress and becomes the driving force of the film, sparking even deeper discussions about this version.

I wrote this because I’m more curious than ever to see what’s coming in his future works… what new visions will he present to us? What haunting endings will he leave us with? The endings of his films are masterpieces in their own right.