Nosferatu 1922

Film: Captain Thunderbolt 1951 | For the Term of His Natural Life 1927 | Metropolis 1927 | Ned Kelly 1906 | Nosferatu 1922 | Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975 | Strike 1912 |

Albin Grau, Nosferatu, 1922, German magazine advertisement.

1. The Original 1922

One of the classic films of German cinema of the 1920s is F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, released on 4 March 1922. The best available version is the following from the Internet Archive site. It runs for approximately 94.13 minutes at 18 frames per minute, is tinted, the image is of a very fine quality (HD), having been restored circa 2018, plus there is an orchestral soundtrack and English subtitles. Nosferatu is undoubtedly one of the greatest vampire films, and with the scariest atmosphere, if not effects.

Nosferatu, 1922, Internet Archive, 15 August 2018, duration: 94.13 minutes.

Numerous other versions can be found on the Internet or in physical form such as Blu-ray or DVD. The release in 2024 of a remake of the film has generated the present article. The reference list below provides links to background on the making of the film and discussions of its content and significance. The 2008 film Shadow of a Vampire is recommended, as it presents a fictionalised making of the film, with William Defoe as the mysterious Count Orlok figure.

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2. Nosferatu the Vampyr 1979

Werner Herzog's Nosferatu the Vampyr of 1979 presented the world with a replica of Murnau's Count  Orlock, and a narrative closer to the Count Dracula films of the 1930s and later. The poster was also iconic, with its stain-glassed motif.

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2. Shadow of the Vampire 2000

A wonderful film, and a true homage to both the original Nosferatu and German silent film production during the 1920s.

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3. Midnight's Edge 2024

During 2024 the Midnight Edge YouTube channel released a restoration of the 1922 film, and an extended documentary history.

"Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror" (1922) full movie, Midnight's Edge Retrospectives and Classics, 17 October 2024, YouTube, duration: 96.53 minutes.

The Ultimate "Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror" (1922) documentary, Midnight's Edge Retrospectives and Classics, 17 October 2024, YouTube, duration: 47.42 minutes.

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4. Nosferatu 2024

On 22 February 2025 the writer sat down in the front row of the Southern Cross Cinema, Young, to watch the latest version of Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers. With a run time of 132 minutes, it would have plenty of time to flesh out the story and pay due homage to the original film. Unfortunately, only half of the film was viewed before the writer left the theatre amid the darkness and gore of the big screen. Not being a fan of horror - especially since nearly fainting upon a viewing of The Exorcist in the late 1970s - the remake proved to be everything the writer baulked at and never enjoyed: scary jump cuts, blood and gore, possession of the body, violence, torture and sheer horror. Whilst the move was impressive in regards to the cinematography, acting and script, the darker elements, including the overall darkness of the filmed image, forced the writer to leave halfway as Hutter's wife was about to go through more Exorcist-like trials. A shame really ...... perhaps a viewing at home will enable the writer to see it through to the end, with judicious fast-forwarding of the more scary sections.

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5. References

Nosferatu, 1922, Internet Archive, 15 August 2018, duration: 94.13 minutes.

"Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror" (1922) full movie, Midnight's Edge Retrospectives and Classics, 17 October 2024, YouTube, duration: 96.53 minutes.

Nosferatu: History and Home Video Guide, Brenton Films, accessed 6 October 2024.

The Ultimate "Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror" (1922) documentary, Midnight's Edge Retrospectives and Classics, 17 October 2024, YouTube, duration: 47.42 minutes.

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Film: Captain Thunderbolt 1951 | For the Term of His Natural Life 1927 | Metropolis 1927 | Ned Kelly 1906 | Nosferatu 1922 | Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975 | Strike 1912 |

Last updated: 6 October 2024

Michael Organ, Australia

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