Film Review: Nosferatu (2025)
Summary
Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Horror/Mystery
UK Release Date: 1st January 2025
Directed by: Robert Eggers
Film Duration: 2 hours 12 minutes
Starring: Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe
Content Warnings: Sex & Nudity, Violence & Gore, Jumpscares
Keywords: Gothic, Unsettling, Thought-Provoking
Image from IMDB
Review
A commentary of female sexual desire and lust in a time and genre where it was often seen as unclean.
The word Nosferatu is a Romanian word synonymous with ‘vampire’. With the cult following vampire media has acquired, the success of Nosferatu (2024) is not unexpected. A significantly more horrific take on previous versions; Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) and Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), achieving the haunting thrill of the gothic genre. Cinematography Jarin Blaschke and director Robert Eggers have created a visually stunning piece of work, reminiscent of The Witch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019) their other collaborations.
Lily-Rose Depp’s physicality throughout the film is to be marvelled as she distorts herself into the character, Ellen Hutter, completely. The themes of sexual violation are tackled tastefully and in 2025 it is powerful to finally see a villain, despite his antagonism in sexual nature, who actually asks for consent. The costume design and makeup department responsible for transforming Bill Skarsgård into Nosferatu left nothing to be imagined of this monster and the final shot of Nosferatu and Ellen has been imprinted on me forever. Additionally Willem Dafoe delivers an expectedly comedic performance in his role as the deluded but heroic Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz, and Nicholas Hoult makes a convincing gentleman who provides an air of comfort, juxtaposed to the sexualual deviance, as Thomas Hutter.
Image from IMDB
With a runtime of 2 hours and 12 minutes, there is a slight lull in the second act of the film. Robert Eggers definitely takes his time setting up the tension for the final act. That being said once this dip is overcome the third act is full of fast paced action and heightened stakes which makes the ending that bit more satisfying.
Standout Quote or Moment: The final shot of Nosferatu and Ellen.
Watch if: You are a fan of the gothic literature genre.
Similar Films: Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Poor Things (2023), Woman in Black (2012)
Written by Hazel Earthy