Nosferatu had to be one of the best horror flicks that I have ever seen. I was skeptical because of its age and its silent film style, but I could not even deny that this movie is a classic. Max Shreck is convincing in his role as Count Orlok. Like Metamorphosis and The Nose, some things did come to my mind as I watched the film.
The very first thing that came to my mind while watching this was this episode of Spongebob Squarepants. In the episode, Spongebob and Squidward work the night shift at the Krusty Krab and witness some very creepy visuals; Count Orlok was the one who was apparently flickering the lights. I was hoping that I would see similar humor from Shreck’s character in the film, but I was sadly disappointed.
The disgusting rat-like teeth of Count Orlok was one of the most noticable traits of his character. Count Orlok’s association with the plague made me understand why they made Orlok look like a rat.
In The Hall of The Mountain King from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg
If there is any ridiculously cliche piece of classical music associated with horror and Halloween, it would be Edvard Grieg’s In The Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt. It is often played in many trailers for Halloween-themed movies along with many kids movies. In the case of Nosferatu, the song fits in well with Count Orlok and all of the spooky scenes the movie has.
I find that Count Orlok’s death reminds us about how evil can be defeated by goodness and sacrifice. Ellen Hutter had to give her life to rid the world of Orlok and the coming of light shows us the return of goodness and righteousness in a movie conquered by Count Orlok and the morbid. The coming of light is an embrace that the characters welcome as it gives them safety from Count Orlok’s terror.
I love the spongebob video! But on another note, I liked your connection of symbolism in the film. I think its easy to get caught up in the movie itself and to just sit back and be entertained. I agree with all of your interpretations of the symbols in the film like light, good, and evil and I think that it adds to the whole feel of the film. It definitely adds to the films meaning during the time of its release.
First of all, that Spongebob clip is absolutely hilarious, and whoever doesn’t love the Krusty Krab is lying. I am surprised but also intrigued as to how you thought comedy would play even a small role in any of the characters in this film, and I think it actually would have done the film some good, especially to viewers nowadays. I really enjoyed your take on the symbolic death of Ellen, basically sacrificing one for many. The plague throughout Europe certainly could not be better personified than through a rat, so the resemblance of Count Orlok to the creature is quite fitting as well.
I love how we could talk about Nosferatu and just transition into Spongebob Squarepants. The clip was really funny. I agree that this film is a classic, but instead of searching for deep symbolism I focused more on being entertained. Your interpretation of Count Orlock’s features seeming rat like and relating that to the plague in Europe was insightful. The point that you brought up about how Ellen’s sacrifice and the death of Count Orlock representing good conquering evil is probably the prime message of the film.