‘It Feels Ugly And Blasphemous’: Nosferatu Director Robert Eggers Recalls The Process Of Making Film

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As a long-time devotee of the macabre and mysterious, I can wholeheartedly say that Robert Eggers‘ journey to bring Nosferatu back to life is nothing short of captivating. His childhood encounters with the haunting image of Max Schreck as Count Orlok, and his tireless search for the VHS of the 1922 classic, have shaped him into the visionary director he is today.

Eggers’ approach to filmmaking is a testament to the power of patience and growth, as he waited until he felt ready to tackle such an iconic project. His humility in acknowledging that he might have been “less adept” earlier in his career is endearing, and it’s fascinating to see how his other films, like The Lighthouse and The Northman, have equipped him with the tools he needed to bring Nosferatu to life as he envisioned it.

In a world where instant gratification is often valued over growth and learning, Eggers serves as an inspiring figure who reminds us that sometimes, good things come to those who wait – or in this case, those who learn, grow, and hone their craft. And with that, I’ll leave you with a little joke: I guess we can say that Nosferatu is proof that patience really is a Vampire!

Robert Eggers, director of Nosferatu, shared insights about creating the recent horror production titled Nosferatu. In an interview with IndieWire, he reminisced on his years-long fascination with the project and the steps taken to transform it from the original German horror film.

As a child, Eggars confided that he was tormented by a malevolent, ill figure. Interestingly, despite his sensitivity to intense horror in films, he developed an intrigue for the mysterious and grotesque genres.

He shared with the media that he remembered seeing an image of Max Schreck as Count Orlok in a school book from his elementary years, and it left quite an impression on him. Discussing the 1922 German film, the filmmaker reminisced about his mother’s tireless search for its VHS tape throughout New Hampshire.

He too remembered witnessing a theatrical presentation of Nosferatu during his high school days. Over time, his fascination for horror films and Nosferatu intensified, eventually making it his long-cherished dream to work on this film. In 2016, following the release of his first directorial feature The Witch, the filmmaker explained the reasons behind waiting before adapting Nosferatu.

Eggars expressed his astonishment, finding it offensive, arrogant, and distasteful for a fellow filmmaker like himself to remake Nosferatu. However, he admitted that destiny seemed to have guided his decision to make the film sooner rather than later.

He admitted that he chose not to create the movie because at that time, he lacked both the influence and expertise for it. However, he also expressed, “I was less skilled in filmmaking back then. To be honest, perhaps the film could have been even more successful if I had waited a bit longer. But I’ve definitely learned a lot, and I’ve grown substantially as an individual and as a filmmaker.

In the process of making his subsequent movies like The Lighthouse and The Northman, Eggers discovered valuable insights about filmmaking. Despite taking pride in his work on The Witch, he felt disheartened by the limitations that prevented him from fully realizing his creative vision.

In my experience, I found myself unable to replicate the same approach with “The Northman” due to its colossal scope and magnitude. Following those projects, Eggers confessed that he had long awaited this moment when he truly believed he could direct a quality film effectively. He further mentioned that this newfound confidence as a director was invaluable, making it gratifying to embark on “Nosferatu” with such assurance.

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2024-12-31 23:23