Nosferatu the Vampyre

Nosferatu the Vampyre

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1979 (1979)
Founder	Werner Herzog
Products	Gothic horror film

Nosferatu the Vampyre () is a 1979 gothic horror motion picture both directed and scripted by Werner Herzog. This film functions as a remake and reinterpretation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, revisiting the 1922 Nosferatu while reinstating the original character names, now free from copyright restrictions. Set during the 19th century in Wismar, Germany, and Transylvania, it features Klaus Kinski portraying Count Dracula, Isabelle Adjani as Lucy Harker, and Bruno Ganz in the role of Jonathan Harker. Two separate versions were produced with dialogues performed in either English or German.

Herzog’s Nosferatu garnered critical praise and achieved commendable box office results, marking the second collaboration out of five between Herzog and Kinski following their 1972 project Aguirre, the Wrath of God. The film attracted approximately one million viewers in West Germany and earned ITL 53,870,000 in Italy. In France, it registered 933,533 admissions, indicating a moderate commercial reception.

A novel adaptation authored by Paul Monette was released in 1979 through Avon Publishing and Picador. The 1988 Italian horror production Nosferatu in Venice acts as a loose continuation of the story, with Kinski reprising his role as Dracula.

Plot

In 1850, Jonathan Harker, an estate agent based in Wismar, Germany, is dispatched by his employer Renfield to meet Count Dracula, who intends to acquire property within the town. Leaving his wife Lucy behind, Jonathan journeys to Transylvania. Despite warnings from local innkeepers, he proceeds to Dracula’s castle where he encounters the Count. Dracula becomes fascinated by a portrait of Lucy and consents to purchase the Wismar estate.

During Harker’s stay, he endures unsettling experiences linked to Dracula. Meanwhile, Lucy is plagued by disturbing dreams while Renfield is institutionalized due to apparent madness. Jonathan discovers Dracula resting inside a coffin, confirming his vampiric identity. Dracula sets out for Wismar accompanied by coffins filled with cursed earth necessary for his rest. Imprisoned within the castle, Harker attempts an escape but suffers serious injuries and is hospitalized.

Dracula travels by ship toward Wismar, killing crew members along the way. Upon reaching the town, a deadly epidemic spreads; local physicians including Abraham Van Helsing attribute it to a plague carried by shipborne rats. Jonathan returns home gravely ill, barely recognizing Lucy and exhibiting sensitivity to sunlight. Lucy confronts Dracula but fails to deter him from his sinister intentions.

Recognizing that the fatalities are not due to plague, Lucy tries to alert the townspeople who remain doubtful. From a Transylvanian manuscript given to Jonathan, she learns that defeating Dracula requires distracting him until dawn—the sun’s rays will destroy him but at the cost of her own life. Jonathan’s health continues to decline.

Lucy places consecrated Hosts inside Dracula’s coffins and around Jonathan before luring Dracula into her bedroom where he drinks her blood. She manages to delay sunrise until first light arrives, resulting in Dracula’s destruction. Van Helsing arrives to find Lucy deceased but triumphant and drives a stake through Dracula’s heart to confirm his demise. Jonathan awakens transformed into a vampire; he has Van Helsing arrested for killing Dracula and departs on horseback donning attire resembling that of Dracula.

Background

Although Werner Herzog’s 1979 film draws inspiration from Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, it primarily serves as a tribute to F. W. Murnau's 1922 silent classic Nosferatu, which deviates from Stoker's narrative. Murnau’s adaptation changed certain details and character names, as it was made without permission from the novel’s rights holder, Stoker’s widow Florence. This led to a legal battle resulting in an order to destroy all existing copies; however, some prints survived and were later restored once the copyright expired. By the 1960s and 1970s, the silent film resurfaced and attracted new audiences.

Herzog considered Murnau’s Nosferatu to be Germany’s finest cinematic achievement and aimed to create his own interpretation starring Klaus Kinski. By 1979, with Dracula having entered the public domain, Herzog was able to use the original character names.

He envisioned his film as an allegory reflecting the vulnerability of order within a bourgeois community. Herzog portrayed Nosferatu not merely as a monster but as "an ambivalent, masterful force of change" that disrupts societal norms. Actress Isabelle Adjani emphasized her character’s growing fascination and desire for Nosferatu, offering a distinctive take within vampire film portrayals. Kinski underscored Dracula’s tragic aspect as a tormented figure ensnared by fate, adding emotional depth to the role.

Filming

The production of Nosferatu the Vampyre was a collaboration between Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, French company Gaumont, and West German broadcaster ZDF. Reflecting typical West German film budgets of the 1970s, filming was conducted with a small team of just 16 crew members. Unable to shoot in the original location of Wismar, production relocated to Delft, Netherlands. Additional scenes were filmed in nearby Schiedam after Delft officials refused permission to release 11,000 rats for a particular sequence. Scenes depicting Dracula’s residence were shot in Czechoslovakia; Herzog initially intended to film in Transylvania, but Ceaușescu’s government denied access due to the association between Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. Both interior and exterior shots of Dracula’s castle were captured at Pernštejn Castle.

At the request of distributor 20th Century Fox, Herzog created two versions concurrently for English-speaking audiences: most dialogue scenes were performed twice—once in German and once in English—with some dubbing applied. In 2014, Herzog praised the English version as "great" but regarded the German cut as more authentic.

The film’s opening sequence was shot at the Mummies of Guanajuato museum in Guanajuato, Mexico, showcasing naturally preserved victims of an 1833 cholera outbreak. Herzog arranged the mummies by age for filming purposes.

Klaus Kinski’s makeup for Dracula—including a black costume, bald head, rat-like teeth, and elongated fingernails—faithfully recreates Max Schreck’s original look from 1922. Japanese makeup artist Reiko Kruk efficiently managed the four-hour application process without incident despite Kinski’s notorious reputation for difficult behavior. Several shots intentionally replicate iconic visuals from Murnau’s film as deliberate tributes.

Music

The soundtrack for Nosferatu the Vampyre was created by the West German ensemble Popol Vuh, who frequently collaborated with Herzog. It incorporates selections from their album Brüder des Schattens – Söhne des Lichts. Additionally, the film features compositions by Richard Wagner (specifically the prelude to Das Rheingold), Charles Gounod's "Sanctus" from his Messe solennelle à Sainte Cécile, as well as the traditional Georgian folk tune "Tsintskaro", performed by the Vocal Ensemble Gordela.

Animal cruelty

Dutch ethologist Maarten 't Hart, recruited for his knowledge of laboratory rats, chose to withdraw after observing their mistreatment. The rats, imported from Hungary, suffered harsh transit conditions that led to cannibalistic behavior. Herzog demanded that the white rats be dyed gray, a process involving immersing their cages in boiling water, which resulted in the death of half the animals. The surviving rats rapidly removed the dye by grooming themselves. 't Hart also suggested that sheep and horses used during filming were subjected to improper treatment.

Release

Initially released under the title Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht in Germany and Nosferatu the Vampyre in English-speaking regions, the movie was entered into competition at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival. There, production designer Henning von Gierke received the Silver Bear award for an outstanding individual achievement.

Critical response

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 94% approval rating based on 66 reviews, with an average score of 8.4/10, commending Herzog's visual style and Klaus Kinski's compelling vampire performance. On Metacritic, it has a score of 79 out of 100. Critics have remarked on its consistent horror atmosphere while expanding the narrative to highlight the vampire’s tragic solitude. Reviewer John J. Puccio praises it as a respectful tribute to Murnau’s original work that successfully modernizes the story.

Roger Ebert gave it a perfect four-star rating, describing Herzog’s vampire portrayal as “completely devoid of ego” and considering the film a contemplative yet powerful visual experience since Murnau’s 1922 Nosferatu. In 2011, Ebert included it in his "Great Movies Collection," lauding Herzog’s mastery over visuals and his earnest approach to vampire mythology:

One remarkable aspect of this film is its aesthetic appeal. Herzog’s artistic vision meticulously manages color, framing, and lighting to convey vampires with seriousness. While I do not believe in their existence, this is how they would appear if real.

Accolades

Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
Berlin International Film Festival	Golden Bear	Werner Herzog	Template:Nom
	Silver Bear for an outstanding single achievement	Henning von Gierke (production design)	Template:Won
Cartagena Film Festival	Golden Pelican for Best Actor	Klaus Kinski	Template:Won
German Film Awards	Best Director	Werner Herzog	Template:Nom
	Best Actor	Klaus Kinski	Template:Won
	Best Actress	Isabelle Adjani	Template:Nom
	Best Cinematography	Jörg Schmidt-Reitwein	Template:Nom
	Best Production Design	Henning von Gierke, Gisela Storch	Template:Nom
National Board of Review Awards	Top Five Foreign Language Films	Nosferatu the Vampyre	Template:Won
Sant Jordi Awards	Best Performance in a Foreign Film	Klaus Kinski	Template:Won
Saturn Awards	Best Foreign Film	Nosferatu the Vampyre	Template:Nom
	Best Costumes	Gisela Storch	Template:Nom