Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ Lands 96% Rotten Tomatoes Score

Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu has been one of 2024’s most anticipated movies since it was announced, and fans should be very excited, as critical word of mouth is looking good. A remake of the 1922 film Nosferatu, which itself was an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the new film stars Bill Skarsgård as the title monster, who also goes by the name Count Orlock. The cast is rounded out by Lily-Rose Depp (The Idol), Nicholas Hoult, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Simon McBurney, and Ralph Ineson. Under the direction of Eggers, who has become one of the most exciting directors thanks to films like The Witch and The Northman, they make Nosferatu a favorite to become one of the best films of 2024.

Nosferatu has debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with 95% based on 42 reviews. In a 5/5 review on Bloody Disgusting, critic Meagan Navarro says, “Eggers reinterprets Murnau’s seminal work as a psychosexual gothic tragedy that transforms this adaptation into a mesmeric macabre masterpiece.” Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent (UK) also gave the film a perfect raiting, saying, “Nosferatu not only revitalizes a classic monster, but it also reminds us why they matter at all.” David Ehrlich of IndieWire rated the film an ‘A-‘ and said, “Eggers’ broadly suggestive script doesn’t put too fine a point on the specifics of Ellen’s repression, but Depp’s revelatory performance ensures that the rest of the movie doesn’t have to.” MovieWeb‘s own George Edelman gave Nosferatu a 4/5, saying:

“From the sound of a gate clanking shut to the particles of dust floating in the air on an abandoned road to the wax seal indicating ancient occult horror, no detail fails to align with a complete cinematic vision.”

However, not all the reviews received high praise. Variety‘s Peter Debruge was critical of Lily-Rose Depp’s character and said, “Nosferatu builds to a tragic finale, but is weighed down by pretentious dialogue, somnolent pacing and weak performances, especially that of Lily-Rose Depp as the doomed damsel.” Even in a more positive leaning reaction, The A.V. Club‘s Katie Rife said in her ‘B’ rated review, “Sumptuously realized and terminally self-serious, it’s the culmination of everything Eggers has been working towards in his career so far — for better and for worse.”

Can ‘Nosferatu’ Enter the Oscar Race?

Nosferatu getting such an impressive critical response and a late-year release could possibly position the film as a dark horse in the upcoming awards race. While the Academy Awards are often accused of overlooking horror films, they have recognized plenty in the genre throughout their history. Not only did Silence of the Lambs win the coveted top five prizes of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Actor, but in 2017, Get Out surprised many by earning a nomination for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. Nosferatu isn’t a frontrunner, but it could take people by surprise, particularly in some of the technical categories, as it could land nominations in Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Costuming, and Cinematography.

Related

Why the Original ‘Nosferatu’ Was So Controversial

The controversy surrounding F.W. Murnau’s gothic tale told through the eyes of expressionist filmmaking didn’t pertain to the imagery.

The big question is whether Nosferatu can take a bite from the box office. The film’s Christmas release calls back to Sony Pictures’ decision to market The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as the “feel bad” movie of the holiday season in 2011, which ended up backfiring, and the movie was a box office disappointment. Yes, conventional wisdom would have suggested a horror film like Nosferatu would do better closer to Halloween. However, releasing Nosferatu during Christmas not only works as nice counterprogramming for family movies like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King, but also has the potential to play well into the early parts of January. This pattern worked for the original Scream, which opened in theaters on Dec. 20, 1996, and landed at number four at the box office on its opening weekend, but through word of mouth, stuck around in the box office top 10 for nine weeks. Judging by the early reviews, that trajectory could certainly be in play for Nosferatu.