People often ask me what my favourite horror film of all time is, and it's often an answer I can't give, but if I had to pick a small batch of films to place into that bracket then this silent movie would be one of them. Forget all other vampire films, and all of this 'True Blood' shite, 'Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror' has to be one of the greatest and most atmospheric and original horror films ever made, and even more amazing when one considers its age. People often speak about Bela Lugosi as 'Dracula' but nothing comes close to Max Schreck's interpretation as the Count. Hard to believe that, according to rumour, Bram Stoker's heirs wanted this movie destroyed as they felt it was too much of a rip-off of Stoker's classic novel - but thankfully one print survived, and 'Nosferatu', just like the classic fictional book, remains unequalled.
I often place 'Nosferatu' alongside 'Vampyr' and 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' when it comes to three of the most surreal and atmospheric horror movies. Fans of today's ultra-violent movies will probably not understand the sheer spine-tingling quality of this film and its touches of genius - such as the shadow ascending the stairs, and its hand grasping the breast/heart of its potential victim. Although there are many changes here from Stoker's work, i.e. instead of Count Dracula, the fiend of this piece is better known as Count Orlok, 'Nosferatu' is still very much a separate entity which stands alone as a piece of crackly Gothic horror. If anything 'Nosferatu' is the closest movie interpretation we'll ever have when it comes to representing our idea of Count Dracula, such is the lithe menace of this bald-headed, big-browed entity. As 'vampire' films go this is far from being scary, in fact it offers romanticism and haunting depth and proves that not all great horror movies need resort to fright, but there is no greater bogeyman than Count Orlok. For those of you who don't like 'Nosferatu' then clearly you do not understand the concept of horror at all. From its setting to its lighting 'Nosferatu' is light years ahead of its time.
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