Movie Review: Shadow of the Vampire

Shadow of the Vampire

John Malkovich and Willem Defoe in Shadow of the Vampire.

E. Elias Merhige - Director
John Malkovich - Friedrich Wilhelm 'F.W.' Murnau
Willem Defoe - Max Schreck
Cary Elwes - Fritz Arno 'Fritzy' Wagner
Udo Kier - Albin Grau
Catherine McCormack - Greta Schroeder
Eddie Izzard - Gustav von Wangenheim

In 1922, German film director Friedrick Wilhelm Murnau sought to make a film based on Bram Stoker's Dracula. Stoker's widow Florence denied him the rights to use the book as source material, so Murnau simply changed the names and locations and used it anyway. What resulted was one of most terrifying films of the silent movie era, and one of the most frightening adaptations of the classic vampire tale. Shadow of the Vampire is a dramatization of the filming of Nosferatu, one that asks the question "Was Max Schreck really a vampire?"

Early in the film, we see director Murnau (Malkovich) shooting some of the first scenes for his movie. He explains that they will soon be moving the shoot to Czechoslovakia to film the scenes with Schreck (Defoe) who will be playing Count Orlock in his movie. No one on the set has ever heard of Max Schreck, and when they question Murnau about him they are told only that he is a very passionate actor who absorbs himself into the role he is playing. Thus, they will only see him in character, in full costume and only at night.

Nosferatu was made in the silent movie era, so characters had to display their emotions visually. The first time we see Schreck in the movie is one of the most frightening and effective scenes. The filming for the scene starts with Gustav (who has yet to see the man he will be acting with) apprehensively approaching Count Orlock's castle at night. He looks truly afraid as the doors slowly open and Orlock emerges from the shadows. What we see is not the modern day image of a vampire that we've become accustomed to. Orlock is not slender, debonair and well-dressed. He is awkward, slightly hunched with yellowing skin and eerily long fingers and fingernails. His two front teeth are longer than the others and come together at a point. This is appropriate, since the word nosferatu is derived from the Greek "nosophoros" or "plague carrier."

The crew are all quite afraid of Schreck, who always remains in character. His speech is very dark and cryptic; he becomes excited at the sight of blood. Murnau must continually remind him of his role and his commitment to the film, often speaking to Schreck as though he were speaking to an unruly child who has forgotten his manners. Murnau is devoted to making the perfect vampire movie almost to the point of madness. He is willing to put himself and his crew at risk to achieve his dreams.

I enjoyed this movie, though the overall feel of the movie was such that I felt dirty at the end of it. It is definitely a strange film peopled with strange characters. It is not scary in the standard horror film sense of the word. Do not approach this film with the mindset of going to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Jeepers Creepers or other such standard movies within the genre. The pacing is a little bit slow, but Shadow of the Vampire is entertaining. I reccomend it if a horror movie about a horror movie sounds like it's for you.

3 wombats out of 4.