Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)

A key film to watch before Eggers’ Nosferatu is, of course, the 1922 original directed by F.W. Murnau, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. In Nosferatu, you can see the German Expressionist techniques that have influenced countless horror films since, such as exaggerated, theatrical gestures and the use of tilted camera angles. So many images from the film remain powerful and unforgettable, from Orlok’s shadow creeping across the wall as he stalks his prey to the ravishing Ellen clutching her heart and collapsing into bed. Perhaps most striking of all is the image of Max Schreck as Count Orlok standing motionless in a hallway, his eyes bulging and his sharp claws outstretched. It’s thrilling to witness the infancy of the horror genre in Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, a silent film that, even over a century later, continues to send shivers down spines with its blend of terror and artistic innovation.