Plot: What’s it about?
This is much like all the other stories about the main vampire, but I will still provide a brief synopsis, just in case you’ll need one. Inside a massive, eerie castle lives a most unusual man, Count Orlok (Max Schreck). Orlok doesn’t come out too often and seems a little on the pale side, but aside from that, he’s a downright creepy person who spooks most of the locals. In fact, none of them will venture to his castle for any reason, some won’t even look at it or speak of it. But Orlok doesn’t take offense to their antics and whatever he does all time, he just keeps on doing it and pretty much lives in seclusion. But when he decides to leave the rolling countryside behind him and head for the bustle of the urban landscape, he needs a real estate agent to assist him. He calls on a man to find him a plot of land and when he does, Orlok prepares his unusual belongings and climbs aboard a large ship, which will deliver him to his new home. But once on the high seas, Orlok reveals his sharp teeth and hunger for human blood, which leaves the crew an expired lot and forces Orlok to look toward his soon to be port of call, where another feast awaits him…
We’ve seen a lot of vampire movies over the years, but few can hold a candle to the original Nosferatu, a true classic of horror cinema. I have always loved this movie and the eerie atmosphere it provides, so I gave this new edition a spin as soon as it arrived. In case you can’t tell, this review covers the silent version of Nosferatu, which was filmed in 1922 and inspired a wealth of future vampire flicks. I am still almost shocked at how old this movie is, as it still stands up very well and is among the finest examples of vampiric cinema. A very effective tale based on Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, this film was a little too close and that caused some legal issues. At one point, all prints were to be disposed of, but we can be thrilled some managed to survive that traumatic time. It would have been a true shame if this movie had been lost, which makes it all the more important to appreciate it now. If you’re a fan of vampire movies, this is the grand daddy of them all and is a must own title, but even casual film fans should take the time to check this film out. This new disc from Image Entertainment is a wonderful treatment and as such, I recommend a rental or purchase, whichever you prefer.
This is not the first time this film has been released by Image Entertainment, but I do think this is a much superior edition in the end. The original edition was no botch treatment by any means, but this new special edition clears up some problems and tacks on some more supplements, which is fine by this reviewer. The same extras make the trip to this disc as before, but as detailed in the extras section, a few more goodies have been included here, which adds more value to the release. You will also find a new score included, as well as the old one, which offers a more modern take on the musical score. The main difference is the visual transfer however, as this disc provides a much cleaner and sharper source print, which in turn offers the best version of Nosferatu to date. In addition to the sharper print, this edition has improved title cards and color tints, which also enhance the film more than a little. I am very pleased with this new disc and if you own the previous release, take the effort to upgrade to this one, the cost is well worth it in the end.
Video: How does it look?
Nosferatu is presented in a full frame transfer, which preserves the film’s intended aspect ratio. This film was made in 1922 and all previous editions were mediocre at best, but here we have a new source print and it looks terrific. The print still shows some signs of age, but it is much cleaner than previous editions and is also very sharp. This means a lot of detail is present and though I’ve seen this movie many times before, I saw new touches this time, which impressed me. This version also includes a new tinting scheme, which I think works well and improves on other editions I have seen. The film still looks a little rough, but this is the best I have ever seen the movie look and I think Image should be praised for this release.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc offers two choices for audio, but since the film is silent, the options are just musical ones. The first is a 5.0 surround track, which features a more modern take on a score for the film and could leave some fans let down. I like the idea behind this track, but in the end, I think it feels somewhat out of place here, a distraction more than not. The second track is much better and offers a stereo option, which is a more traditional organ score. This one fits the film very well and has a nice feel to it, which I think enhances the movie a lot. If you own the previous disc from Image, this is the track found there. I am pleased Image took a chance on the new modernized track and I think some will really like it, but I still prefer the traditional organ score in the end.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes an audio commentary track with Lokke Heiss, who knows his stuff when it comes to director F.W. Murnau and this film. I think most will find Heiss to be too dull and planned, but he does pack in a lot of information, which is a good trait for commentary tracks. If you can handle monotone speakers, then this is a track well worth the effort. You can also take a tour through various locations from the film, to see what they look like now, which is very cool and an interesting addition, to be sure. Also found here is a special look at one famous shot from the film (with the original version and an explanation), some artwork from the film’s art director, a casting ad from a newspaper, and some still photos. All in all, an impressive selection of goodies, especially for such an old film, another superb disc from Image Entertainment.
