Shadow of the Vampire (2001)

Clever, engaging, and boosted by the sublime casting of Willem Dafoe as Nosferatu actor Max Schreck, Shadow of the Vampire is a film full of good ideas that are only partially developed. Its premise is ripe with possibilities, but the movie's too slight to register much impact, so you're left to relish its delightful performances and director E. Elias Merhige's affectionately tongue-in-cheek homage to a landmark of German silent cinema. John Malkovich is aptly loony as the eccentric director F.W. Murnau, whose passion in filming the 1922 classic Nosferatu leads to the extreme casting of Schreck as the vampire, a vision of evil who, in this movie's delightfully twisted imagination, actually is a vampire, sucking the blood of cast and crewmembers who've dismissed Schreck as an overzealous method actor.

As these on-set maladies and "accidents" continue, Schreck wields greater control over Murnau, who descends into a kind of obsessive art-for-art's-sake madness until diva costar Greta Schroeder (Catherine McCormack, doing wonderful work) is served up as the actor's ultimate motivation. Merhige and his actors (including Cary Elwes, as intrepid cameraman Fritz Wagner) have great fun with this ghastly escapade, and the humor is kept delicately subtle to balance the movie's artistic aspirations. To that end, Dafoe is just right, his bald pate and gaunt features a perfect match for the mysterious Schreck, his grimace and talon-like fingers suggesting a human vulture on the prowl. Likewise, the re-creation of Nosferatu's expressionist style is both fanciful and brilliantly authentic. Too bad, then, that this movie suffers a mild case of vampiric anemia; if it shared the depth and richness of, say, Ed Wood, this might have been a cult classic for the ages. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Shadow of the vampire

Great twist on the vampyre tale. Dafoe performance is a blend of humor, menance, and lust. All essential elements 4 this type of movie. 4 those of u game 4 a good scare, check out this smart scarefest. January 7, 2009

Willem Dafoe at his best

I love this movie. I have the original Nosferatu and Dafoe nails the character. John Malkovich is outstanding as the obsessed director. I also loved Eddie Izzard and the self-absorbed actor afraid of his own shadow. All the performance truly brought to life the idea of how a film director obsessed with perfection can do the unthinkable and hire a real vampire to play a role. Fabulous and a must see for all fans of these actors, vampires and the great b movies of the 50's. It is a character study any film or stage student should watch. December 20, 2008

don't bet on this Bete Noir

Shadow of a Vampire has all the ingredients of a black, black film, but comes off no more than a dark shade of grey. Still, not too shabby for a film whose brilliant acting includes a cast comprising Willem Dafoe, Eddie Lizard, and John Malkovitch.



September 17, 2008

Nosferatu for real

Willem Dafoe stars as the actor Max Shrek, playing Nosferatu; except he's not an actor he really is a vampire. That is the premise of this film. Its based on the 1921 classic silent movie and works on neally every level. As simple entertainment its thrilling and occasionally quite funny. On a deeper level, like most horror films it plays on our darkest fears and our primal instincts.

The acting from Dafoe and Malkovich is magical, and the supporting cast including Eddie Izzard, are very good.

Why doesn't it merit 5 stars. Well if you remove the long opening credit sequence and the end credits, the film actually comes in at under 80 minutes. It could have been fleshed out a little more (excuse the pun).

Still its a fine film that pays tribute to the original classic, and is classic all of its own.
August 28, 2008

One of my favorite movies--I had to own it!

This movie is thrilling in every way--from the story line, the great actors/actresses, cinematography, etc. Every time I watch it, I seem to catch one little thing I missed before. One recommendation: If possible, you MUST watch "Nosferatu" before you see "Shadow of the Vampire." May 10, 2008

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