Summary
The first trailer for Robert Eggers’Nosferatuhas been released, and it shows that it learned a key lesson from a big mistake made by one of Bill Skarsgård’s most successful horror movies. The trend of remakes continues in the horror genre, and there’s a lot of anticipation and excitement around Robert Eggers’ take on the horror classicNosferatu. Based on the 1922 silent German Expressionist vampire movie of the same name, which is an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’sDracula,Nosferatuis a gothic tale of love, obsession, and blood.
Nosferatuis the story of Ellen Hutler (Lily-Rose Depp) and Count Orlok (Skarsgård), a vampire who becomes infatuated with her, but once he awakes, he unleashes horror around them. Also starring inNosferatuare Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, Simon McBurney, and Ralph Ineson, and most of them can be seen in the first trailer, although briefly.Nosferatuisn’t the first time Skarsgård plays a vampire, so there’s a lot of curiosity around what his Count Orlok looks like, butNosferatuseems to have learned a key lesson from a Pennywise mistake.
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Nosferatu Isn’t Showing Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok (Yet)
The First Nosferatu Trailer Didn’t Show Count Orlok
Skarsgård’s Count Orlok has only been shown partially and either blurred or in the shadows.
Everything about Eggers’Nosferatuhas been quite discreet so far. The official photos released before the first trailer focused on Depp and Dafoe’s characters, and Skarsgård’s Count Orlok has only been shown partially and either blurred or in the shadows.The first trailer forNosferatuwas expected to give the first full look at the new Count Orlok, but instead, the character is only shown quickly from behind and, once more, among the shadows, leaving everyone wondering what Skarsgård’s character looks like – but through this, it proves it learned from a huge Pennywise mistake.
Online reaction to Pennywise’s look before the movie’s release had a negative impact on Skarsgård, saying he felt the studio’s decision was “kind of mean”.
In 2017, Skarsgård played Pennywise in Andy Muschietti’sIt, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. Skarsgård’s Pennywise was very different from that of Tim Curry in the 1990 miniseries, and despite being more like the book’s description of the character, it sparked some not-so-nice comments from fans. Speaking toEsquirein May 2024,Skarsgård reflected on the momentthe studio released the first look at his version of Pennywise, way before the movie’s release. Online reaction to it had a negative impact on Skarsgård, saying he felt the studio’s decision was “kind of mean”.
Although the audience’s reaction to Skarsgård’s Pennywise ultimately changed onceItwas released and they could see his terrifying performance,Nosferatuis cleverly avoiding a similar situation by not showing Count Orlok yet. It’s unknown ifNosferatuwill reveal Count Orlok’s full look before the movie’s release, but so far, it’s doing the right thing in keeping him secret.
Why It’s Better That Nosferatu Doesn’t Show Count Orlok Before Its Release
Nosferatu Is Doing Right By Not Showing Count Orlok Yet
Keeping his appearance a secret creates more interest and curiosity around the movie, drawing a wider audience to it.
Through Dafoe’s character,theNosferatutrailer establishes that Count Orlok is a mythical figure, so it makes sense that he hasn’t been shown yet. Keeping his appearance a secret also creates more interest and curiosity around the movie, drawing a wider audience to it, and it also avoids unnecessary controversy. Revealing Pennywise’s look beforeIt’s release eased the audience’s curiosity but sparked unnecessary criticism about a new take on the character purely based on his appearance, when the most important thing was Skarsgård’s performance.
Count Orlok’s image is now part of pop culture, andrevealing it beforeNosferatu’s release would take away the mysticism around himand prompt rushed and potentially harmful assumptions about Skarsgård’s performance, just like what happened with Pennywise. It’s unknown ifNosferatuwill fully show Count Orlok in future trailers, but hopefully, and for the sake of the movie and the character, it will be kept a secret until the movie’s release.
Nosferatu
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
