NosferatuWerner Herzog’s 1979 Nosferatu the Vampyre is a remake of F. W. Murnau’s original silent masterpiece.  Remake.  Homage.  Classic.  It shares a lot with the original, Herzog even recreated some of Murnau’s shots.  But it’s Klaus Kinski who seems to be Max Schreck reincarnated as the Count.

Estate Agent Jonathan Harker travels to close a property deal with reclusive Transylvanian nobleman Count Dracula.  It takes him nearly month to travel the route, and along the way Harker traverses some rather rough and primitive countryside.  He is warned to turn back, to not continue because the castle and the Count are evil.

Harker continues, though, and upon seeing Count Dracula for the first time, he probably wishes he had heeded the advice of the nay-sayers.  Count Dracula is bald, rodent looking, with long fingernails and in serious need of some sun.  Harker’s host is so disturbing, he even haunts the estate agent’s dreams.  In fact, nearly everyone involved with the deal is losing their fragile little minds:  back home, Harker’s boss, Renfield goes crazy and is committed.  And Harker’s honey, Lucy, has nightmares of doom of her own.

When Harker discovers his host sleeping in a coffin, it pretty much confirms the local legend of vampires.  But he’s in no position to stop the Count who eventually arrives in Wismar, Germany (Harker’s hometown) with Harker hellbent to stop him.


At first the people of Wismar think the plague has descended upon them, but it’s just the good Count feeding.  Throw in 11,000 rats and you got a good movie.

Kinski steals the show in this thing, and ramps the eerie factor up to eleven.  As creep-inducing as he makes the Count, we still feel the loneliness and hopelessness that deteriorates him, gaining our sympathies as he repulses us.  It’s an accomplished performance in an often overlooked film.

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