- Joined
- Jan 2, 2007
- Messages
- 1,067
Hmm. You know what? When I rented this, I wasn't expecting much. In fact I actually assumed it was just a straightforward retelling of how the classic silent horror movie, Nosferatu was made. While I was partly right, it was in no way "Straightforward" or even realistic. I got quite a pleasant shock and found one of the most inventive and clever horror films I have yet to find in awhile. While I didn't find it particularly scary, it was still wonderfully made and inventive.
It IS about the making of Nosferatu, but the twist here is that Max Schrech, played brilliantly by William Defoe (Fans of the original silent film will appreciate his performance the most, he not only looks like the original actor/character but does an amazing job recreating his movements and actions) is indeed a real vampire, and the films director, Murnau (Played somewhat goofily by John Malcovich, and despite this somewhat goofy portrayal, it makes him a very memorable character.) signed him on without telling the other actors/actresses this fact, and agrees to let Max feed on his crew and actors/actresses as soon as the film is finished. What one will do for a paycheck, eh?
The direction is excellent. Some of the scenes recreating famous scenes from Nosferatu are recreated almost verbatim, much like the scenes from Tim Burton's Ed Wood, making it hard to tell the difference. Outside of these scenes, the direction is still tight and focused. The story never wanders out of focus and everything seems to blend, the realistic, the surrealistic, and the pre-existing all works well.
There's really not much negative I can say about the film. It's stylish, brilliant, and an extremely clever take on a classic. About the only thing I can say is that as a horror, it's not particularly scary, but there is a great atmosphere and other aspects compensate for this lack. Fans of Nosferatu or even its source material should check it out, and even if you aren't familiar with it, Shadow of the Vampire is a very well made, stylish, and inventive film that is a breath of fresh air when compared to most of the films currently populating the genre.
9/10
It IS about the making of Nosferatu, but the twist here is that Max Schrech, played brilliantly by William Defoe (Fans of the original silent film will appreciate his performance the most, he not only looks like the original actor/character but does an amazing job recreating his movements and actions) is indeed a real vampire, and the films director, Murnau (Played somewhat goofily by John Malcovich, and despite this somewhat goofy portrayal, it makes him a very memorable character.) signed him on without telling the other actors/actresses this fact, and agrees to let Max feed on his crew and actors/actresses as soon as the film is finished. What one will do for a paycheck, eh?
The direction is excellent. Some of the scenes recreating famous scenes from Nosferatu are recreated almost verbatim, much like the scenes from Tim Burton's Ed Wood, making it hard to tell the difference. Outside of these scenes, the direction is still tight and focused. The story never wanders out of focus and everything seems to blend, the realistic, the surrealistic, and the pre-existing all works well.
There's really not much negative I can say about the film. It's stylish, brilliant, and an extremely clever take on a classic. About the only thing I can say is that as a horror, it's not particularly scary, but there is a great atmosphere and other aspects compensate for this lack. Fans of Nosferatu or even its source material should check it out, and even if you aren't familiar with it, Shadow of the Vampire is a very well made, stylish, and inventive film that is a breath of fresh air when compared to most of the films currently populating the genre.
9/10
