What Lurks In The Dark? E. Elias Merhige’s ‘SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE’ (2000) – Retro Review

E. Elias Merhige’s Shadow Of The Vampire is iconic for many reasons. It’s sheer brilliance, going behind the scenes of one of the oldest monsters that terrified people. However, 1922 is far into the past. Some things keep the silent film era alive. The movie is based on fabricated events of filming Nosferatu, the first vampire.

Let’s get into the review.

Synopsis

Bram Stoker’s widow has refused to sell the film rights for Dracula to F.W. Murnau, so Murnau [John Malkovich] decides to film it anyway, changing the names of the characters, the title, and the locations. Thus, Dracula becomes Nosferatu, Transylvania and England become Germany, Count Dracula becomes Count Orlok, and Mina becomes Ellen. After filming the beginnings of the movie on a soundstage in Berlin, Murnau is anxious to get cast and crew to Czechoslovakia, where they will be meeting up with Max Schreck [Willem Dafoe], the vampire hired by Murnau to play an actor playing a vampire.

Shadow of the Vampire turned the tables on most of the “straight-to-video” generation of horror. The film fabricates the truth, being able to tell the story they wanted. In the film, they make Schreck seem to have a longing for alone time with the next victim. Shadow of the Vampire sits in a very odd position. However, the story was so thrilling.  It may be a lot of dialogue, however, it is balanced out and not overwhelming. The film takes an unexpected detour that you should have seen coming. However, the story is so hypnotizing that you barely realize there is a drawn-out story going on.

Easy Answers

You can anticipate the big reveal after only a few minutes. You don’t need to be a detective to figure out the side plot. Though you see it coming, it is still shocking. However, the movie can still attract your full attention. Shadow of the Vampire was overlooked out of ignorance. I personally think it is almost saying the entire film was groundbreaking. Shadow of the Vampire will reach you in your innermost fears. There is no way out of it, scene by scene, it’s edge of your seat. Once you put two and two together, it’s an easy call. The film is mainly shot in the dark, giving you the idea that this story actually happened. I don’t think anyone expected it to be such a great film.

In the End

I can’t really count this among my top films ever; however, I humbly admit that this film is in regular rotation for me. I respect the work that went into both the silent film and the modern story. Count Orlok’s makeup and demeanor are, honestly, extremely eerie without even trying. The prosthetics and shadowing pervade almost the entire film. We are taken in by Shadow of the Vampire.  Between the look of Count Orlok and the fantasy that makes you question your life choices, Shadow of the Vampire sold me immediately. That’s what a grade A film is supposed to be, even the ones that always flew under the radar.