From other Robert Eggers horror films likeThe Witchto other visually stunning vampire tales likeBram Stoker’s Dracula, there are a lot of great movies like 2024’sNosferatuto check out next. Most horror classics don’t need to be remade, and when they are, they tend to be an underwhelming rehash of their predecessor. But Eggers brought his own distinctive vision totheDracula-adjacent story ofNosferatu. It’s a sumptuous visual feast with gothic visuals, historically accurate sets and costumes, and a completely unique take on the well-worn image of Count Orlok.
Nosferatuis such an original vision of the vampire myth,witha vampire that drinks blood via the chest, and such a singular film within the horror genre as a whole, that there’s no other movie quite like it. But there are plenty of movies that share its best qualities, like its unsettling atmosphere, its gorgeous gothic visuals, and Bill Skarsgård playing a creepy monster. Plus, there are two other versions ofNosferatuitself that are similarly singular, visionary horror masterpieces. These are the best movies for fans of Eggers’Nosferaturemake to watch.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Cast
Bram Stoker’s Dracula, set in 19th century England, follows Count Dracula as he journeys to London. There, he encounters Mina Harker, who bears a striking resemblance to his long-lost love.
Nosferatuis an unofficial adaptation ofDraculathat brings its dreaded vampire and his medieval surroundings to life in stunningly atmospheric fashion.In 1992,Francis Ford Coppola directed an official adaptation ofDracula— so official that it even has the author’s name in the title — that did the same thing.
Bram Stoker’s Draculais another visually striking reimagining of the story that focuses on the themes of otherness, occultism, and desire.It’s one of Coppola’s most beautiful movies,and it’s elevated by Gary Oldman’s jaw-dropping portrayal of the titular undead count.
The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is a psychological thriller directed by Robert Eggers. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson star as Thomas Wake and Ephraim Winslow, two lighthouse keepers who begin to experience strange and supernatural phenomena after they get stranded on a remote island in the 1890s.
Nosferatuisn’t Eggers’ first horror movie rodeo; he’s already a well-established director within the genre.In fact, he’s one of the main reasons why the term “elevated horror” was coined by snooty critics who felt the need to justify their praise for a horror film.
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The most confounding of Eggers’ so-called elevated horror movies isThe Lighthouse, a black-and-white, square-framed psychological thriller about two 19th-century lighthouse keepers losing their minds in isolation.LikeNosferatu,The Lighthousehas powerful performances, thanks to Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, and unforgettable imagery, like a recurring vision of a mermaid.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (2024) is a feature-length retelling of the classic 1922 vampire film directed by David Lee Fisher. This reimagined version brings Count Orlok’s chilling tale to life, combining elements from the original with new sound and music in a tribute to golden-age horror.
The movie with the most obvious connection toNosferatuis the seminal classic it’s based on,F.W. Murnau’s 1922 masterpieceNosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.The originalNosferatumay have faced legal troubles for brazenly adapting theDraculastory without permission, but it was eventually recognized as a hidden gem and still holds up as one of the all-time finest horror films.
Murnau’s post-war interpretation put a fresh spin on theDraculanarrative.
Nosferatuis the original horror film; it created the template for the entire genre. Murnau’s post-war interpretation put a fresh spin on theDraculanarrative, and his shadowy, expressionistic cinematography has influenced the past century of scary movies.
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow is a supernatural horror thriller by director Tim Burton and Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Based on the original tale by Washington Irving, Sleepy Hollow follows constable Ichabod Crane as he is sent to the titular northern New York town to investigate a series of beheadings. However, the scholarly Crane’s foe is a supernatural being that cannot be explained - The Headless Horseman.
WhileNosferatusucceeds admirably at capturing the classical feel of the gothic horror genre, it also plays as a bit of a sly self-parody.It has a dark sense of humor, a winking approach to well-worn tropes, and a delightfully subversive climax.
In this sense, it plays a lot like the horror movies of Tim Burton — particularlySleepy Hollow, Burton’s own gothic horror effort. Burton tells the time-tested tale of Ichabod Crane’s investigation into the Headless Horseman’s string of mysterious murders with dazzling visual effects, a captivating atmosphere, and a healthy dose of pitch-black comedy.
It
In the film It, a group of seven children in a small Maine town, known as The Losers Club, confronts various life challenges, including bullies and a malevolent entity. The creature, which takes on the guise of a clown named Pennywise, becomes the focus of their courageous battle.
Nosferatuisn’t the first time that Skarsgård has played an iconic monster; he previously played Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the blockbuster film adaptation of Stephen King’sIt.Much likeNosferatu,Iteffectively builds a terrifying mystique around Skarsgård’s malevolent spirit — and when he finally emerges from the shadows, he doesn’t disappoint.Itis about a paranormal entity that feeds on children’s fears and leaves adults alone, and director Andy Muschietti used that premise to explore the very real terrors faced by kids that adults often turn a blind eye to, like bullying, neglect, and social anxiety.
Crimson Peak
In turn-of-the-century England, young heiress Edith Cushing marries Sir Thomas Sharpe, who whisks her off to his family’s mansion in a largely rural and mountainous region. But when she is visited by spirits and inflicted with mysterious ailments, she discovers that her charming new husband is not who he appears to be.
Although it was marketed as a straightforward scary movie,Nosferatuis as much a gothic romance as it is a horror film — and the exact same could be said ofGuillermo del Toro’s underrated gemCrimson Peak.Set in 1901,Crimson Peakfollows an aspiring author to her husband’s creepy mansion in the middle of nowhere in foggy England, where she discovers some sinister paranormal secrets. LikeNosferatu,Crimson Peakis a classic ghost story with top-tier acting from a star-studded cast and Oscar-worthy cinematography from a visionary filmmaker.
Only Lovers Left Alive
Only Lovers Left Alive is a romantic comedy and horror fantasy film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. The movie stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, focusing on two centuries-old vampires that live in the modern age thanks to their supply of blood from various sources.
Nosferatuis a vampire movie that relies more on character development than jump scares.In that sense, it’s reminiscent of Jim Jarmusch’s supernatural romanceOnly Lovers Left Alive. Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton star as two disillusioned vampires who have been married for centuries and are struggling to survive in the modern day.
It’s hard enough to make a long-term relationship work for the entirety of a human lifespan, but it’s extra challenging when the couple is immortal.Much likeNosferatu,Only Lovers Left Aliveuses the conceit of vampirism to tell an unconventional love story.
Suspiria
Suspiria follows young American dancer Susie Bannion as she joins the prestigious Helena Markos Dance Company in 1970s Berlin. As she ascends to lead dancer, unsettling accusations of witchcraft surface against the female directors, prompting an investigation into the studio’s dark and mysterious underground.
Dario Argento’sSuspiriais a strong contender for the title of greatest horror movie ever made.Jessica Harper stars as an American ballet student at a prestigious German dance academy, who’s shocked to learn that the school is a front for a coven of witches.
Suspiria’s bright, eye-popping colors and enchanting soundtrack by the prog-rock band Goblin are a stark contrast fromNosferatu’s more understated style.
LikeNosferatu, it’s a fiercely original vision of horror cinema with gorgeous cinematography and three-dimensional characters.Suspiria’s bright, eye-popping colors and enchanting soundtrack by the prog-rock band Goblin are a stark contrast fromNosferatu’s more understated style, but they both dig into deeper themes beyond their classic horror framework.
Nosferatu The Vampyre
Nosferatu The Vampyre is a horror film remake of the 1922 classic, adapted from Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. Directed by Werner Herzog, the film stars Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from his castle in the Carpathian Mountains to a small German town, spreading terror and death in his wake.
Eggers’ version ofNosferatuis far from the first remake of the Murnau classic — and it’s not the only one that lived up to the insanely high bar set by the original, either. In 1979,the legendary Werner Herzog directed his own redo,Nosferatu the Vampyre, starring regular collaborator Klaus Kinski as the vampiric villain.
This version drops the pretense of being an original story; it even uses the name “Dracula.” Herzog fills the movie with creepy imagery that’ll keep you up at night, and Kinski’s portrayal of the vampire is just as intense and enrapturing as Skarsgård’s.
The Witch
The Witch follows a 1630s family that relocates to a remote New England farm. Strange, unsettling events transpire, causing mounting suspicion and paranoia. This testing environment challenges the family’s faith, loyalty, and love amid isolation and tension as they confront the unknown forces lurking beyond their new home.
Eggers’ first movie,The Witch, instantly established him as a filmmaking force to be reckoned with. Set in New England in the 1630s,The Witchstars Anya Taylor-Joyas a Puritan whose family is cast out into the wilderness. As she and her family get settled on a rural farm, they’re stalked by an evil witch lurking in the woods around them.The Witchintroduced Eggers’ penchant for uniquely unsettling imagery, like a raven breastfeeding from a cackling witch, and gave him a reputation as one of the most exciting new voices in horror cinema.
Much likeNosferatu, it’s an arthouse horror movie that has the subtlety, thoughtfulness, and delicate sensibility of a prestigious arthouse drama without sacrificing any of the fun or entertainment value of a horror film. They both have wonderfully effective jump scares without relying on them too much; they both subvert familiar tropes in a way that feels brand-new. Long beforeNosferatucame along,The Witchput Eggers on the map.
