NOSFERATU: THE REAL STORY (2024)

3 stars

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With the imminent release of the much anticipated Robert Eggers version of ‘Nosferatu’, this documentary by Robin Bextor (father of Sophie-Ellis, in case you were curious) is a timely exploration of the original silent classic. Most long time horror fans are familiar with the basics. The 1922 production was an unauthorised version of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ starring Max Schreck. Names and other details were changed, but when Stoker’s widow got wind of the copyright infringing film, she sued, and ordered all copies destroyed. Luckily for us this highly influential production survived.

This film expands on that basic story and tells how the film came into being utilising both clips from NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR (Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens) and other silent productions (which are, annoyingly, not identified, but you will probably recognise most of them). It looks at producer Albin Grau’s association with the occult fraternity and such practitioners as the famous Aleister Crowley, the work of director F. W. Murnau and the striking looking main actor Schreck. An at times overly academic investigation of the background to this now rightly lauded masterpiece, this has several talking heads that you have never heard of (instead of the usual movie pundits) – so you get Dr Cristina Massccesi, Nicholas Barber , Dr Sarah Crowther, Tobias Churton and Stacey Abbott all waxing lyrical.

Writer/director Bextor has previous form with such outings as THE EXORCIST: UNTOLD (2023) and OPPENHEIMER: THE REAL STORY. Worth a watch if you are curious about this now iconic movie.

Steve Kirkham