Hector Godoy

Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is a frustrating misfire that wastes its potential, its cast, and—most importantly—your time. What could have been a haunting and atmospheric homage to the original instead becomes a tedious, overacted, and painfully slow mess. Let’s start with the story—or lack thereof. The film never explains why Lily-Rose Depp’s character is connected to Count Orlok. Why is he drawn to her? What happened in her past to create this supposed bond? These questions linger throughout the film but are left frustratingly unanswered. Instead of meaningful storytelling, the film meanders like a child with ADHD, wandering aimlessly and never getting to the point. And then there’s Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok—if you can even call it that. He spends most of the film hidden in shadows, barely seen, as though the filmmakers were afraid to commit to his character design. Skarsgård’s distinctive face could have been perfect for the role, but instead, it’s buried under uninspired makeup and cinematography that fails to showcase him. The pacing is unbearably slow. It drags so much that I had to fight to keep my eyes open—it’s less gothic horror and more unintentional sleep aid. Yes, the cinematography is decent, but it’s not the striking, noir-inspired artistry you’d expect from a project like this. For a film based on one of the most iconic examples of German Expressionism, it barely scratches the surface of that style. The performances are painfully overwrought, with everyone seemingly competing to deliver the most melodramatic line. It’s hard to feel any connection to the characters when their emotions are so exaggerated they border on parody. The film also fails to build any real suspense or terror—it’s just hollow scenes strung together without purpose. In short, Nosferatu is a missed opportunity. It lacks the focus, depth, and atmosphere that made both the original 1922 film and other gothic adaptations like Bram Stoker’s Dracula so compelling. I want my hours back. Do yourself a favour: save your money, skip this disaster, and revisit the classics instead.