Films > Film Reviews

Nosferatu with live piano accompaniment

OPEN

04/11/16

This masterpiece from 1922 paved the way for genre storytelling and of course lit the path for vampire movies. Frames are filled with drawn out lengths and obscure angles to heighten the post war period Germany was going through, and with a live piano accompaniment by Anthony Gowing, the night was sure to be even more atmospheric.

Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim), gets sent to Transylvania to meet a client named Count Orlok (Max Schreck), and once Hutter reads up on a vampire legend he begins to suspect his host isn’t just a strange man. Hutter rushes back home trying to stop Orlok who is after his wife Ellen (Greta Schroder), but is he too late to save her?

The oppressive imagery gives the film a bleak look which works nicely. The castle of Orlok is enough to make you realise what a creepy location Hutter is in. There’s plenty of stretched lines and abnormally sized objects to fit in with the German Expressionism of the time, such as the tall chairs in Orlok’s dining room. Shadows and lighting are beautiful and the moment Orlok climbs the stairs to get to Ellen is a cinematic gem to remember for ever. A powerful performance from Max Schreck using Expressionism of the time ensures he becomes Orlok, plus he has a lean spindly body that works for this parasitic creature, his hands like spiders and arms stuck to his side create this constant vertical impression making him seem taller and therefore he looms over proceedings.

Yes, it may not truly be a horror, but despite the lack of scares there’s a suitable amount of Gothic style and haunting atmosphere. It’s so influential for the world of film's development of horror storytelling - a stylish silent film that I love and will always love, so getting to see it as silent films of the era would have been seen, with live music, was a great treat.

Nosferatu is a breakthrough for the early stages of film as director F.W Murnau concocted a symphony of delights within this silent feature. Imagery and performance work hand in hand to make this a great film to behold. The addition of live piano music from Gowing and a special appearance from Orlok himself guaranteed a fun, special night.

8.5/10