NosferatudirectorRobert Eggershas explained why his version of the iconic vampire features a new distinct feature. The image of 1922’sNosferatu’s Count Orlok is iconic, whose monstrous appearance drastically differs from that of the more human-looking Count Dracula. With a bald head, sharp fingernails, and buck fangs like a bat, the image of Count Orlok is ingrained in popular culture, so it made the remake’s decision to hide his appearance in the trailers so riveting as it suggested a drastic reimagining of the character. Audiences were likely shocked to see this monstrous vampire with a prominent mustache.
While speaking withVariety, Eggers explained why he gave Count Orlok, played by Bill Skarsgard, the defining facial feature that no other version of the character has used. It came down to a combination of historical accuracy, as Transylvanian noblemen like Orlok would have had a mustache. It also drew him close to the image of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula and, by extension, Orlok. Eggers said:
“So to try to make a more scary vampire than we’ve had in quite some time, I went back to the folklore. It’s something that I like anyway, but the early folk vampire was written about by people who believed that vampires existed. There was going to be some good stuff there, and the vampire of folklore is a putrid, walking undead corpse. And so the question then became, “What does a dead Transylvanian nobleman look like?” That means this complex Hungarian costume with very long sleeves, strange high-heeled shoes and a furry hat. It also means a mustache. No matter what, there’s no way this guy can’t have a mustache.Tryto find a Transylvanian person who’s of age who can grow a mustache that doesn’t have a mustache. It’s part of the culture. If you don’t want to bother Googling, think of Vlad the Impaler. Even Bram Stoker had the sense to give Dracula a mustache in the book.”
Nosferatu’s decision to give Count Orlok a mustache certainlysets him apart from his predecessor and other iconic vampires.Nosferatu’s image of a vampire has become a visual shorthand for monstrous predator vampires instead of the more alluring tragic figures of Bram Stoker and Anne Rice’s work.Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s The Master and even the Dracula-ledThe Last Voyage of the Demeterfeature vampires that closely resemble Max Schreck’s depiction of Count Orlok. Hence, Eggers’s decision to give him a mustache is not only historically accurate but visually distinctive.
A Bold New Image for Count Orlok
EggersNosferatuwas certainly one of the most anticipated movies of the holiday season, and audiences did rush out to see it as it pulled in $11.5 million on Christmas Day, ahead ofSonic the Hedgehog 3. Some audiences might have been shocked by the film’s decision to give the character a mustache, along with other creative choices, as it earned a B- CinemaScore from opening night audiences. Critically, the movie is doing very well, with87% on Rotten Tomatoes, and projecting a $42 million five-day opening. With a budget of $50 million,Nosferatuis already on track to be a hit for Focus Features.
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While Eggers’s depiction of Count Orlok might not be what audiences expected fromNosferatu, it is likely a creative choice that will stick with the character in his own way.Gary Oldman’s Dracula fromBram Stoker’s Draculawas a stark difference from the popular image of Bela Lugosi’s version of the character. While the Universal Monster version of Dracula is still the iconic image of the character, Oldman’s version has been parodied and referenced in a number of adaptations, including an iconic episode ofThe Simpsons. While the 1920s Count Orlok will likely never be replaced, don’t be surprised if Robert Eggers’s creative swing inNosferatuinspires countless Halloween costumes and Universal Halloween Horror Nights for years to come.
