One of my all time favorite movies is the Lighthouse. It was one of the most immersive experiences I ever had watching a horror film. So needless to say, I was extremely excited when I heard that Robert Eggers would be doing a remake of Nosferatu .

I went to see the movie last Sunday and honestly, I was pretty disappointed.

I’m someone who enjoys a slow burn, but the pace of this film was painfully slow—even slower than “In a Violent Nature.” I found myself checking my watch more than once, wondering when the story would pick up. It felt like the film was stretched out for no good reason, leading to scenes that dragged on solely on the merit of their visual beauty with little contribution to the overall narrative. A pretty picture can only go far.

Secondly, the story felt disjointed. Eggers introduced new elements to the Dracula story that didn’t mesh well with the original lore. It wasn’t just an expansion or a fresh take; it felt more like a mishmash of ideas that didn’t blend together. These additions seemed to serve no purpose other than to confuse the audience further about what this film was trying to be. Was it a vampire movie or an exorcism movie?

Lastly, Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlock was neither frightening nor interesting. The makeup was uninspired, and what the hell was up with that stupid moustache? The Count’s dialogue was delivered painfully slow with an accent that was more caricature than anything else. Contrasted with the 1979 version, Klaus Kinski was able to elicit a far more emotional response from me. With Kinski’s portrayal, I felt the pain of his immortality, the perpetual sadness which haunted him every moment of his cursed existence. With moustache Orlock, I felt absolutely nothing.

I was hoping for a gripping, atmospheric retelling, but instead, I got a film that seemed unsure of what story it wanted to tell. If you’re a fan of the original, the 1979 remake (my personal favorite) or just looking for a coherent horror experience, this might not be the movie for you.

What are your thoughts if you’ve seen it? I’d love to hear what you have to say in the comments!