Robert Eggers’ new Gothic horror movieNosferatuis a masterclass in dread and fear, but it has an unusual connection to a classic kids’ show from Nickelodeon. The American film-maker’s fourth feature film is a remake of the iconic silent German filmNosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, which is itselfa retelling of Bram Stoker’sDracula. It has generated acclaim from both critics and audiences alike along with a box office return well above initial projections, and there has even been some chatter about major award nominations for the horror movie.
Oddly enough, Robert Eggers has already made special note ofNosferatu’s connection to another Nickelodeon show. The director called out the fact that younger moviegoers might have learned aboutthe originalNosferatufrom one quick scene inSpongebob Squarepants, the long-running animated show which featured an appearance from Max Schreck’s Count Orlok as in a Halloween episode’s final scene (although he was labeled “Nosferatu” in the episode). However, that is not the only classic Nickelodeon show to prominently feature Count Orlok in an episode; in fact, he is a centerpiece of an episode in another show.
Nosferatu Is Not The Name Of Robert Eggers' Vampire, But SpongeBob Had Many Thinking Otherwise
Nosferatu is not the name of Bill Skarsgård’s character in Robert Eggers' 2024 film, despite what SpongeBob says.
An Episode Of Are You Afraid Of The Dark? Features A Theater Haunted By The Original Count Orlok
A Version Of Orlok Exits The Movie Screen To Terrorize The Theater
The memorable episode of Nickelodeon’s belovedchildren’s horror anthology seriesAre You Afraid of the Dark?titled “The Tale of the Midnight Madness” involves the employees of a struggling movie theater fighting to save it from going out of business. They find salvation in the form of an eccentric film-maker who promises them that his horror movie will fill their theater. His prediction comes to fruition as the theater is soon loaded with patrons who line up to see his movie, which is in factNosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.
Christopher Heyerdahl has a long and successful career as a character actor in TV and movies, and has most recently been seen inMonarch: Legacy of Monsters,Peacemaker,Under the Banner of HeavenandThe Last of Us.
The episode takes a turn when the theater employees realize that their theater is suddenly plagued by a vampire. It turns out that Count Orlok can magically exit the movie screen to drain victims of blood. Orlok is played by the highly-celebrated character actor Christopher Heyerdahl, and he does an admirable job of playing the vicious, pale monster with direct mannerisms taken from Schreck’s original portrayal. It’s among the most nightmare-inducing episodes from the children’s show that is the definition of a cult classic.
Nosferatu Isn’t The Only Classic Horror Movie Are You Afraid Of The Dark? Borrowed From
There Are Multiple Echoes Of Silent Horror Films In The Anthology Show
“The Tale of the Midnight Madness” is far from the only episode ofAre You Afraid of the Dark?that dipped into classic horror movies for inspiration. The anthology show covers many of the classic horror subjects, like ghosts, witches, aliens, and monsters, and echoes of horror movies from across the 20th century are present in every season. However, some of the very best draw on movies from the 1920s and 1930s, just likeNosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.
October 31st, 1990
1992-1996 (104 episodes)
1999-2000 (26 episodes)
2019-2022 (13 episodes)
In fact, one of the show’s first episodes, “The Tale of the Phantom Cab”, draws heavily on the 1921 Swedish silent filmThe Phantom Carriage. “The Tale of the Last Dance” is a retelling of the classic storyThe Phantom of the Opera, but it draws directly on the 1925 movie version. Another vampire-related episode, “The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors”, takes major cues from Universal Studios’ iconic interpretation ofDraculafrom 1931. None of the references, however, are as direct as theNosferatucall out from “The Tale of the Midnight Madness”.
Nosferatu
Cast
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
