5
(supernatural undead)
7
(dark subject matter)
7
(worth seeing multiple times)
Nosferatu is an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula although it seems to have been an unofficial one as Stoker’s widow tried to have all copies of the movie destroyed. As best as I can tell the names were originally meant to coincide with the book but changed when rights issues reared their ugly collective head. So Dracula is often called Orlok in the film although in the credits he’s still listed as “Dracula.”
The name changes can make the movie confusing if you aren't aware of them (which now you are, you can thank me with monetary gifts if you so desire). The first time I watched the movie I didn't like it very much because I couldn't get the story straight. Not knowing Orlok and Dracula were one and the same I couldn't reconcile the actions with the dialogue cards. Once I learned more about the history of the movie and watched it again I enjoyed it much more.
Jonathon Harker is a young real estate agent sent by his boss to meet with the wealthy Count Dracula who has expressed interest in buying a place in the city. Dracula is of course a vampire and preys on those around him. His purpose in moving to the city is to have more prey available. Harker’s beautiful wife in particular has caught the predator's eye and despite being a victim may be the dying town’s one hope of stopping the blood-sucking menace.
This version of Dracula is impressively scary considering the low tech abilities of the film makers. It’s all in the presentation. The vampiric deformations and moments like rising inhumanly from a coffin coupled with a masterful use of shadows create a creepy feel that modern movies with their advanced technical capabilities have a hard time matching.
Silent films with their prehistoric technology have a way of looking odd. It has to do with frame rates and transfers and such. Nosferatu, since it plays with speeds anyway to give the vampire his odd qualities, makes it easier to reconcile odd looking movements with a suspension of disbelief. There are a couple of times when I thought a person running across screen looked kind of goofy, but for the most part I thought it looked as good if not better than any other silent film I've seen (not that I have seen very many).
It may be dated just by the fact that it's a silent film, but it's darkly atmospheric, intriguing, and suspenseful. It truly is a masterpiece, and if you can find one that has a solid musical soundtrack the experience will only improve.
Morality
Nothing violent is graphically depicted, but there is a dark, creepy atmosphere and some disturbing concepts. This isn't a romantic vampire, this is an evil monster. There is no nudity, sex, or strong language (in the dialogue cards I mean).
Spirituality
Dracula is, of course, undead. This is the classic unholy “demon” type of monster, the type that shies away from a crucifix and burns at the touch of holy water. He is representative of the devil in the sense that he steals life and brings destruction. He wants to dominate minds to have someone to do his evil bidding and will prey upon any that are unfortunate enough to cross his path.
Final Thoughts
Since this one is short compared to many other silent films and is a relatively well-known story thanks to the popularity of Stoker’s novel, I make the recommendation that if you want to watch one silent movie just to say you've seen one this is the best one to try. It is worth seeing for fans of horror and fans of classic cinema.
Buying Guide
If any of these old silent movies deserve a hefty DVD treatment I would say that Nosferatu would be it. I've been a little surprised that it seems to have been given less attention than some of the others, but it does have a few releases worth a look. Be careful, though, because a search may very well turn up releases that are not the original silent film (as in remakes) while others that are the correct movie may have title variations.
Kino has released a Blu-ray “Deluxe Remastered Edition” (the full details of which will be coming along soon) along with a DVD version of the same. The “Ultimate Edition” from Kino has almost as much to offer as far as remastering and extras. They also have an older DVD that appears to be better than many others but without as much included in the package as the Ultimate. Image has a remastered edition as well. There are numerous other DVD's and just as many multi-movie packs but none others mention remastering or extras. Details are not given on the soundtracks offered by most of these.
There is one other “Collector's Edition” going under the subheading of “A Symphony of Horror” that says it is remastered, but details on it are so scarce that I won't spend any time on it. This same movie is sometimes released as “Nosferatu The First Vampire” which has an “Arrow Special Collector's Series” DVD and a Digiview release.
The 2 Disc Deluxe Remastered Edition is on both Blu-ray and DVD. This appears to be very similar to the Ultimate Edition and may actually be more or less a repackaging for the purpose of releasing it on Blu. It includes 2 versions with original German text or English, a documentary, segments from other Murnau films, and an image gallery. It offers the original score in 5.1 surround or 2.0 stereo. I'll be updating the site with first-hand details of it soon.
The Ultimate Edition includes a high-def transfer with a new performance of the original score in 5.1 stereo surround. It includes the original German text as well as new English translations. Extras include a nearly hour-long documentary, a shorter look at the restoration, several segments from other Murnau films, an image gallery, and scene comparisons. Reviews mention this being very good but with portions of the film still being problematic. The score is also praised by reviewers.
I couldn't find any specific details on the older Kino DVD. All I can say is that even their older releases tend to be among the most highly praised when it comes to these silent film releases.
The Image release is also remastered and scored by The Silent Orchestra in 5.1 surround sound. The quality is said to be quite good though I couldn't find a quality comparison with the Kino version. One reviewer suggests that this also includes a pipe organ score and speaks highly of it. The Silent Orchestra score is said to be a kind of rock-infused orchestration (like Trans Siberian Orchestra perhaps?) and is said to be unusual but good. Extras include a commentary by Lokke Heiss, an expert on German films, which several reviewers highly praise. Heiss provides some features that look at the modern condition of the city, a look at some of the bizarre moments of the movie, and an image gallery.
“Nosferatu The First Vampire” appears to be the same silent film with additional hosting by David Carradine. The soundtrack is Type O Negative songs. I was at first excited about this until I learned that this is not the band scoring the film, rather it is their songs being inserted as the soundtrack. It sounds like the arrangement is not that great with gaps of silence between songs, something that has bugged me quite a bit with other releases that do this kind of thing. The film is remastered and is said to be “good” though I didn't read anyone heaping as much praise on it as I did the Image and Kino versions. Extras include a music video for “Black No 1,” and I guess that's it.
The Digiview version of this release has no reviews for it specifically. It looks to be like it is essentially the same release as the previous one just repackaged although it does not mention any remastering. It does specify that is includes the David Carradine hosting, the Type O Negative soundtrack, and the music video extra.
Final Recommendation:
If I'm honest with myself I have to admit that I want all of these. I want the extras, remastering, and score of the Blu as well as the Ultimate Edition just to be sure I didn't miss anything. I want the rock orchestration and Heiss info from the Image release. And even though it's my least desired version I would like to see it with the Type O Negative soundtrack. I am more satisfied with the 50 Horror Classics version than I have been with some of the other silent movie presentations on it. The organ score is fitting and the quality is tolerable. For such a cheap bargain package I really can't complain. Just the same, I was willing to upgrade to a better edition, and though I haven't had a chance to go through the Blu yet, just watching the movie in this quality was like seeing it for the first time again.
Coming soon! It is a fantastic transfer!
Video
Audio
Packaging
Extras
I originally got mine in the “Horror Classics” 50 pack.
Video
1.33:
This is the TV standard ratio. The video in this one is dark, shaky, jumpy, and scratchy: all around hard on the eyes.
Audio
2.0 mono:
The audio is not too bad but pops and crackles some. It's rather thin as well. I rather like the gothic-sounding organ score used here. Some of the other silent films in this collection have weak soundtrack selections, but this one actually fits for once.
Packaging
This particular disc is housed in a cardboard sleeve contained in a Velcro-fastened box (more recently repackaged in plastic). You can read about the set as a whole in great detail in the Horror Classics (50 pack) guide.
Extras
There are none.