Nosferatu review: "Bill Skarsgård is unrecognizable in this gothic horror with bite"

GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Pros+A technical wonder+Boasts an impressive ensemble cast+Packed with vampiric horror A technical wonder Boasts an impressive ensemble cast Packed with vampiric horror Cons-Feels like a very safe adaptation-Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen is done a disservice Feels like a very safe adaptation Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen is done a disservice Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Unnatural desire (Image credit: Universal) FAST FACTSRelease date:December 25, 2024 (US); January 1, 2025 (UK)Available on:In theatersDirector:Robert EggersRuntime:2h 13m FAST FACTS Release date:December 25, 2024 (US); January 1, 2025 (UK)Available on:In theatersDirector:Robert EggersRuntime:2h 13m Release date:December 25, 2024 (US); January 1, 2025 (UK)Available on:In theatersDirector:Robert EggersRuntime:2h 13m Along with a decent number of well-earned jump scares, the horror of the vampire comes from dark blood, unspeakable acts, oppressive shadows and terrified, convulsing victims. The vampire’s curse is performed as a type of possession, with talk of demons and the occult, and at times the film tips over into exorcism territory. Impressive ensemble (Image credit: Universal) Nosferatu boasts an impressive ensemble cast with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin as the friends caught up in a horrifying fate, Willem Dafoe as the lively alchemist/occultist Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz, Ralph Ineson as the cynical Dr. Wilhelm Sievers, and Simon McBurney as Thomas’ estate agent boss and Orlok’s doomed acolyte Knock. All turn in stirring performances but it’s Skarsgård, Dafoe and McBurney who steal the show for me. Skarsgard’s Count Orlok is a hulking vision of the undead Skarsgard’s Count Orlok is a hulking vision of the undead Depp is also superb, hopefully putting to bed any nay-sayers who doubted her ability to carry such a meaty role. She more than convinces as both the pining, anxious wife and the bewitched casualty of Orlok’s curse, and, as the film plays out, she steps into the part of determined heroine with aplomb. The new Nosferatu is a success; it looks and sounds stunning, is packed with the vampiric horror you’d hope for from the director of such atmospheric works as The Witch and The Lighthouse, is beautifully performed and competently retells a narrative we all know and love. But perhaps this last point is also what stops it from being a perfect movie: it’s solid, but it does very little to push any boundaries of what could be done to bring the ultimate vampire story up to date. Nosferatu is released in US theaters on December 25 and UK cinemas on January 1, 2025. For moreupcoming movies, check out our guide toupcoming horror movies. 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