Is “Nosferatu” Director Robert Eggers’’ magnum opus? Yes, it is as he created one of the best horror movies of 2024. 

There is nothing jolly about this dark and unnerving film as “Nosferatu” is not the romantic vampire story like “Twilight” or “The Vampire Diaries.” It is a retelling of the 1922 classic “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.”

“Nosferatu” released Dec. 25, starring Bill Skarsgård playing the titular role of Count Orlok (Nosferatu), Nicholas Hoult playing Thomas Hutter and Lily-Rose Depp playing Ellen Hutter. 

The film begins with a young Ellen who prays into the night sky in the hopes for any spirits to bring her love. She is then attacked by a gruesome vision and a seizure, unknowingly calling to Count Orlok.

Fast forward to 1838, Ellen, now an adult living in Germany, is married to Thomas, a real estate agent. 

Hutter takes on a job from his employer to sell Schloss Grünewald, a house in terrible condition, to the eccentric recluse Count Orlok, kicking off the immense horror to come. 

The wonderful acting, set and makeup design fully immersed me into the dark, cold and gritty world Eggers created. The costume design made it feel like authentic 1800s Germany, with elegance in the clothing of the nobility and the dirty and tattered clothing of the poor in the movie. 

Skarsgård’s terrifying prosthetics and amazing acting made him ugly, hideous and unrecognizable, covered in sores from head to toe like a rotting corpse.

The film also had outstanding visuals and cinematography. In the film, there was a stunning scene of Thomas standing before the stagecoach to get to Count Orlok’s castle. The scene in that moment was just so visually pleasing in the way he used darkness to his advantage to create these dark and creepy moments. 

Also, the recurring theme being the use of shadows throughout the film were very creative. My favorite moment is when Count Orlok casts his terrifying shadow over the town of Wisborg.   

Nosferatu is not your traditional kind of horror film either. Eggers opted to create a feeling of uneasiness and suspense through an unsettling atmosphere and monstrous, grotesque look of Count Orlok, giving a never-ending feeling of dread. 

Out of all of Egger’s movies, such as “The Witch,” “The Lighthouse” and “The Northman,” “Nosferatu” is easily his best and is a must see for any fans of the occult or gothic horror films.