Summary:

Young Thomas Hutter travels to Count Orlok's remote castle to sell him a property, unaware that Orlok is a vampire. The Count becomes obsessed with Hutter's wife, Ellen, and brings plague and terror to their hometown of Wisborg.

Review:

A seminal masterpiece of silent horror and German Expressionism. 'Nosferatu' remains deeply unsettling thanks to F.W. Murnau's visionary direction and Max Schreck's genuinely chilling, iconic portrayal of Count Orlok. Its dreamlike, shadowy visuals and creeping dread create an atmosphere that modern horror often struggles to replicate. It's not just a historical artifact; it's a powerfully effective and haunting piece of cinema.

Audience Recommendation:

Essential viewing for film history buffs, horror aficionados, fans of silent cinema, and anyone interested in German Expressionism. Recommended for those who appreciate atmospheric tension and visual storytelling over modern jump scares.

Themes:

Explores themes of fear of the 'other,' the corrupting influence of ancient evils on modern society, plague and contagion (reflecting post-WWI anxieties), fatalism, and the thin veil between the rational world and the supernatural.

Fun Facts:

• An unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', the filmmakers changed names and plot points, but Stoker's estate sued successfully, and courts ordered all copies destroyed; thankfully, some prints survived.

• Max Schreck's eerie performance led to rumors he actually *was* a vampire, a myth explored in the film 'Shadow of the Vampire' (2000).

• Director F.W. Murnau used innovative techniques for the time, such as shooting negative film to create a ghostly white forest and using stop-motion animation for the Count's coffin loading itself.