Quick Rating: ****
 
 
 
 
This German silent film is a classic.  One of the best (if not the best) translations of Stoker's Dracula to the big screen.   The filmmakers did not have the rights to make a Dracula adaptation, so it was named Nosferatu ("undead" in Romanian).  The story has Jonathan Harker travelling to Transylvania to meet with Count Orlock (Dracula) regarding real estate.  The count would like to buy a house in Harker's town.  During his long travel, Jonathan stops at a local tavern, where the patrons warn him about not going out at night, and they are shocked and scared when he mentions Dracula's castle.  He is convinced to stay the night there, and discovers a book about vampires in his room.
 
The next day, further along in his journey, after his ride refused to travel any further, Jonathan is met by a mysterious, fast-moving coach.  He climbs aboard and is swiftly taken to the count's castle.  He is greeted by a gaunt, pale, scary individual - the count himself.  As time passes, Harker learns that the count is a vampire, and is determined to travel back to western Europe, where he brings the plague.
 
This is a great movie.  It must have been unbelievably frightening in its day.  It's still creepy today.  Of course, the pace is much slower than today's films, and most of today's audience can't deal with no dialogue.   But it's still a movie any horror fan should see.  The acting is great.  Some memorable scenes are when Nosferatu is at the end of the hall staring towards Harker's room as the door is opened.  And when Harker discovers Nosferatu's coffin, with him in it!  And on the ship, when the captain is confronted by Nosferatu rising unnaturally from his coffin.  And of course the shadows of the count capturing the heart and health of Harker and his wife Nina.  Renfield, the fiendish cohort of the count, also has some great scenes, as he escapes from a mental institution. 
 
Stands the test of time - one of the best horror movies ever.
 




 
 

Quality: 8.0  Visuals: 9.0  Intensity: 6.5 
OVERALL RATING: 7.8