THE OTHER NOSFERATU, TOO

This insightful article by Beverly Walker from the Autumn, 1978 issue of the UK film magazine, SIGHT AND SOUND, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Werner Herzog's NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE, the remake of F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film, NOSFERATU. The author plays a role in the movie, and as a result has some interesting things to say about this remarkable film.

THE OTHER NOSFERATU

Acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog attempted a bold move in 1979 with his (sound) remake of F.W. Murnau's 1922 chiller, NOSFERATU (renamed NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE). Roger Ebert called it "a film of remarkable beauty". THE GUARDIAN called Klaus Kinski's Dracula, "really scary", and EMPIRE magazine remarked that it is "relentlessly creepy and hypnotic".

The highly decorative poster art by David Palladini.

While changing the characters' names back to the Stoker version, in homage to Murnau, Herzog keeps the story line, Dracula's appearance (with stunning makeup created by Dominique Colladant), and even shot some of the scenes that were used in the original. He also recreated some of the iconic images that connect this film to Murnau's.

The impressive and moody soundtrack was scored by German composer Florian Fricke with his influential electronic "musical collective", Popul Vuh. 

The movie adaptation by Paul Monette using the poster art.

The film, awash in saturated colors, is atmospheric and indeed, scary, creepy and hypnotic. Thanks to the incredible acting by Kinski and the striking French beauty, Isabelle Adjani, whose dreamlike presence transfixes every moment she is on screen, NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE equals and in some cases exceeds the power of the original.

The lobby card set: