The Fear of NOSFERATU Comes to 4K Ultra HD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital from writer/director Robert Eggers and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment comes another retelling of the story of NOSFERATU.

Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) is a young woman living with her husband Thomas (Nicholas Hoult) in Germany. As an estate agent, Thomas is hoping that his position as Schloss Grunewald will give him an opportunity to bring a wonderful life for his wife. Called in to see his employer Herr Knock (Simon McBurney), Thomas is told that he would be traveling to visit the recluse Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) who wishes to purchase property in Wisborg.

Thomas asks friends Friedrich Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and wife Anna (Emma Corrin) to look after Ellen as he travels to Transylvania. Arriving after weeks, he is greeted with hostility by the Romani townsfolk and witnesses a ritual that is shocking. Having to make the rest of the journey to Orlok’s castle, he is greeted by Orlok and the appearance is disturbing to Thomas. Yet, he does what he must to finish the paperwork so he can return home to Ellen.

Lord Orlok has other plans and it includes also wanting to return to see the lovely young Ellen. Thomas realizes that he must escape before the nightmares and their effects consume him. Near death, his makes his way home without realizes that Ellen is also suffering melancholy to be confronted by scientist Albin Eberhart Von Franze (Willem Dafoe). Olek has no choice but to sail for Wisborg in a rat-infested ship, using the scurrying creatures to cause havoc in his new hometown met by Knock.

Wisborg is struck by the plague and Thomas attempts to regain his strength as Ellen realizes that her own dreams and nightmares are caused by one thing. Now, Thomas, Dr. Wilhelm Sievers (Ralph Ineson), Von Granze and Ellen must come together with a plan that can put a stop to the madness and destruction happening in their town. 

Hoult as Thomas is a man that clearly wants a standard of life for himself and wife Ellen. Accepting an assignment that could bring him financial reward, it could never have imagined what was truly to come. Hoult has truly spent the last few years covering almost every genre of film and standing out. In this film he is challenged with horror and a bit of bravery all in the name of love. Depp as Ellen is clearly a woman who suffers from a strange malady. Finding refuge in her marriage, it is only a temporary reprieve. Depp gives her character the look of a woman struggling to discover what is true in her life and what is madness.

Skarsgard as Orlok is a strange character but that is nothing new for this actor. The mystery is in how Orlok truly looks which is masked by shadows. Pennywise and Orlok do have a lot in common and that’s where Skarsgard wins. Dafoe as Von Franze comes across as slightly rattled in his own mind with zippy Shakespearean one liners causing a bit of chaos trying to convince everyone that there is a vampire present.

Taylor-Johnson as Fredrich is a wealthy man who befriends Thomas and Ellen. He loves his wife and children and as the world becomes unhinged, Taylor-Johnson character has a difficult time grasping the reality of the situation. Corrin as Anna loves her friendship with Ellen and is distraught at her condition. There is nothing Corrin’s character Anna won’t do for Ellen and it may cost her.

McBurney as Knock is the servant of Orlok but that doesn’t mean his opportunity to cause a little mayhem on his own isn’t possible. Creepy and dedicated, every opportunity McBurney is on screen is a chance to shock. Ineson as Sievers is a former student of Von Franze and doctor to Ellen. Seeking help to discover the cause of a young woman’s malady, he knows that his mentor may be a little off, but brilliant none-the-less.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

Bonus Features include the Extended Cut and Theatrical Version, Deleted Scenes, NOSFERATU: A Modern Masterpiece and Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Robert Eggers.

NOSFERATU is a film that is grey, dark and filled with vampiric folklore. The characters felt more like this should be a dark and eerie stage production. The costuming is one of my favorite things about period pieces and the film definitely comes through on that score brilliantly. The women truly looked like the era and gave it such a richness to the story.

The cinematography was beautifully done with the eeriness of greys, blacks and a fogginess that lends feels like another character in the film. The music added a nice touch of intensity to the scenes. However, the 1992 film BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA continues to be my standard and this film hasn’t changed that opinion. It is interesting to note that every generation or so a Dracula film comes along and sticks with the audience of that era. My grandmother had her Bela Lugosi, my mother had Frank Langella, I have Gary Oldman and now Bill Skarsgard.

In the end – succumb to the darkness!

The Fear of NOSFERATU

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently in theatres from writer/director Robert Eggers and Focus Features comes another retelling of the story of NOSFERATU.

Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) is a young woman living with her husband Thomas (Nicholas Hoult) in Germany. As an estate agent, Thomas is hoping that his position as Schloss Grunewald will give him an opportunity to bring a wonderful life for his wife. Called in to see his employer Herr Knock (Simon McBurney), Thomas is told that he would be traveling to visit the recluse Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) who wishes to purchase property in Wisborg.

Thomas asks friends Friedrich Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and wife Anna (Emma Corrin) to look after Ellen as he travels to Transylvania. Arriving after weeks, he is greeted with hostility by the Romani townsfolk and witnesses a ritual that is shocking. Having to make the rest of the journey to Orlok’s castle, he is greeted by Orlok and the appearance is disturbing to Thomas. Yet, he does what he must to finish the paperwork so he can return home to Ellen.

Lord Orlok has other plans and it includes also wanting to return to see the lovely young Ellen. Thomas realizes that he must escape before the nightmares and their effects consume him. Near death, his makes his way home without realizes that Ellen is also suffering melancholy to be confronted by scientist Albin Eberhart Von Franze (Willem Dafoe). Olek has no choice but to sail for Wisborg in a rat infested ship, using the scurrying creatures to cause havoc in his new hometown met by Knock.

Wisborg is struck by the plague and Thomas attempts to regain his strength as Ellen realizes that her own dreams and nightmares are caused by one thing. Now, Thomas, Dr. Wilhelm Sievers (Ralph Ineson), Von Granze and Ellen must come together with a plan that can put a stop to the madness and destruction happening in their town.  

Hoult as Thomas is a man that clearly wants a standard of life for himself and wife Ellen. Accepting an assignment that could bring him financial reward, it could never have imagined what was truly to come. Hoult has truly spent the last few years covering almost every genre of film and standing out. In this film he is challenged with horror and a bit of bravery all in the name of love. Depp as Ellen is clearly a woman who suffers from a strange malady. Finding refuge in her marriage, it is only a temporary reprieve. Depp gives her character the look of a woman struggling to discover what is true in her life and what is madness.

Skarsgard as Orlok is a strange character but that is nothing new for this actor. The mystery is in how Orlok truly looks which is masked by shadows. The other problem for me is that the attempted accent muddled the speech so much I gave up trying to understand him. Pennywise and Orlok do have a lot in common and that’s where Skarsgard wins. Dafoe as Von Franze comes across as slightly rattled in his own mind with zippy Shakespearean one liners causing a bit of chaos trying to convince everyone that there is a vampire present.

Taylor-Johnson as Fredrich is a wealthy man who befriends Thomas and Ellen. He loves his wife and children and as the world becomes unhinged, Taylor-Johnson character has a difficult time grasping the reality of the situation. Corrin as Anna loves her friendship with Ellen and is distraught at her condition. There is nothing Corrin’s character Anna won’t do for Ellen and it may cost her.

McBurney as Knock is the servant of Orlok but that doesn’t mean his opportunity to cause a little mayhem on his own isn’t possible. Creepy and dedicated, every opportunity McBurney is on screen is a chance to shock. Ineson as Sievers is a former student of Von Franze and doctor to Ellen. Seeking help to discover the cause of a young woman’s malady, he knows that his mentor may be a little off, but brilliant none-the-less.

Focus Features’ mission is to make a lasting impact on global audiences by creating the home for artists to share diverse, distinctive stories that inspire human connection. Focus Features is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies that brings entertainment and news to a global audience. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.focusfeatures.com.

NOSFERATU is a film that is grey, dark and filled with vampyric folklore. That being said, I was not overwhelmed by it at all. It felt campy, with overdramatic characters that felt more like this should be a stage production and not a film. Changing the names and locations just didn’t work for me as it felt more like Eggers was trying to create a different vampire story. That’s fine but then do just that – be original and stay out of another writers back yard.

The cinematography was beautifully done with the exception of a few wonky camera sweeps and the music added a nice touch of eerie to the scenes. However, the 1992 film BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA continues to be my standard and this film hasn’t changed that opinion. It is unfortunate that NOSFERATU could not find its footing because, and let’s be honest, we want to see, understand and be scared of the being in the coffin and Orlok just isn’t any of these things.

Personally, it is not a good sign when the audience is talking and giggling during the film constantly and leaving after disappointed.

In the end – succumb to the darkness!

He was Born to be THE NORTHMAN

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Robert Eggers and Focus Features comes the tale of loss, revenge and Valhalla with THE NORTHMAN.

Amleth (Oscar Novak) is a prince to his people living with Mother Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman). Excited about the return of his father King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke), they, along with the people greet the King and his brother Fjolnir (Claes Bang) home.

Spending time with the King, Amleth also is brought into the mystical world with the help of Heimir the Fool (Willem Dafoe). But it is not to last long as Amleth must run from those who wish to end his life. Reaching a boat, he retreats chanting of revenging and rescue.

Year pass as Amleth (Alexander Skarsgard) is now a grown man accepted into a group of men who raid a village for slaves. Catching his eye is Olga of the Birch Forest (Anya Taylor-Joy), one of the women of the village. He also enters the dwelling of the village Seeress (Bjork) who tells him things he has long kept secret about himself.

He also discovers that some of the slaves are being sent to King Fjolnir and this sets him on a path of the revenge and rescue he has thought of for years. On the boat journey, Amleth and Olga become very close as he shares what his goal is. Arriving, he sees his mother who now has a young son and still no one knows who he truly is.

Except maybe the He-Witch who tells him exactly what to do and how to get what he is after. Moving toward the ultimate goal, Amleth discovers what he never even considered about his early years. Now, he must make the hardest decision of his life to save those he loves.

Skarsgard as the grown Amleth is absolutely stunning in this role. He has a, oddly, quite rage from the moment we see him on screen. It is almost as if he were living in a fog and happily taking on the role of brutal savage in the eyes of those are at his sword’s mercy. It takes a moment alone with a sorceress to wake him up and a trip with Olga to see there is something else, yet he has unfinished business. Skarsgard as Amleth takes us on a well thought out journey, step by step he takes the lead, and we go along with ease.

Bang as King Fjolnir has taken everything from Amleth and would never have thought there would come a time to be held accountable. When his village goes through strange circumstances, it is the furthest thing from his mind. Trying to maintain control becomes difficult and Bang’s character realizes that there is only one way to stop the madness – at the gates of hel.

Kidman as the Queen has moved on with her life in a new place and a young son who she clearly loves. Still ruling as a queen, she becomes frantic when the horrors of the village start hitting close to home. Kidman’s character has her story moments that tell of life without Amleth.

Taylor-Joy as Olga is very clear on who Amleth is and learns what he is trying to accomplish. Supporting whatever he decides to do, she feeds him information and helps to make plans for their departure. Taylor-Joy’s character understands why and what must happen and gives her character strength without fanfare but instead an intensity of spirit.

Hawke, Dafoe and Bjork have their roles to play and although brief, have an impact on the character of Amleth. These three invididuals offer insight to the young man’s future and their characters give equal intensity.

Other cast include Ian Whyte as Thorvaldr Giant-Crusher, Hafpor Bjornsson as Thorfinnr, Doa Barney as Melkorka, Olwen Fouere as Ashildur, Ralph Ineson as Captain Volodymyr, Kate Dickie as Halldora, Gustav Lindh as Thorir the Proud, Ingvar Sigurosson as the He-Witch, and Murray McArthur as Hakon Ironbeard.

Focus Features’ mission is to make a lasting impact on global audiences by creating the home for artists to share diverse, distinctive stories that inspire human connection. Focus Features is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies that brings entertainment and news to a global audience. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.focusfeatures.com.

THE NORTHMAN is a cinematic experience for many reasons. First, there is such an emptiness (once away from the King’s village), from ships on the sea surrounded by the elements to Amleth’s journey across the same emptiness on land before reaching his destination. He may be with others, but the cinematography brings in the feeling of the world being so big and Amleth being so small in that world.

The cast brings a richness, and each has their own story to tell, and director Eggers gives ample time for that to occur. Amleth is so singularly focused on his own pain that, for the longest time, he does not see that he is not the only person in this madness. The fantastic images of the Shield Maiden (shout out to Katie Pattinson) are absolutely stunning, rich and full of emotion.

The story is brutal, ethereal and based in their strong and unbendable belief in the halls of Valhalla. Getting to that place honorably changes Amleth’s path and takes on the indestructible faith that evil must be destroyed. From childhood to manhood, his path is filled with strange twists of fate with a story that could easily be Shakespearean.

In the end – conquer your fate!