"Nosferatu: The Real Story" (2024)

by Joseph Perry

Normally here at “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict”, both Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. However, here and there they will be taking the reins in a solo outing. For this installment, it’s Joseph with a solo review of Nosferatu: The Real Story from director Robin Bextor and Reel 2 Reel Films.

Synopsis

Nosferatu (AKA Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror; Germany, 1922; directed by F.W. Murnau) was a silent horror film, an unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. Despite a court order to destroy it, surviving copies became highly influential in cinema. This documentary traces its origins, impact, and legacy, leading to the 2024 remake.

The Good

I appreciate that Bextor went for quality over quantity regarding the number of talking heads interviewed. The people giving historical background and personal opinions here do an impressive job articulating their thoughts. A copious amount of clips from Murnau’s film, other silent films, horror films inspired by Nosferatu, and Werner Herzog’s 1979 remake and Robert Eggers’ upcoming remake help illustrate the influence and legacy of the silent classic. The documentary is paced nicely and the running time of 71 minutes feels just right.

The Bad

Make no mistake, Nosferatu: The Real Story is a quality documentary throughout. For the sake of putting something in this section, though, I’ll just raise the tiny quibble that people who have studied, read about, or otherwise researched the 1922 version of Nosferatu to some degree will already be familiar with much of the material discussed in this documentary.

The Verdict

Nosferatu: The Real Story is a highly informative work, and also a very easy one to watch. It works wonderfully as both a primer for those not well versed on the amazing history of Murnau’s silent classic, and as a refresher course for those who already have some knowledge of its background. The former will especially appreciate the timing of this documentary’s release and the upcoming release of Eggers’ Nosferatu remake. Anyone interested in the history of horror films and in the history of cinema in general should also find it a worthwhile watch.