Directed by F.W. Murnau, Nosferatu: a Symphony of Horror, and Sunrise: A song of two humans, are silent films from the 1920's. Throughout Sunrise, two young lovers rekindle their romance while Nosferatu is a horror adaptation of Bram Stoker’s, Dracula. While they differ in genre, both are similar in that they consist of a young couple who encounter a threatening situation. The element of space becomes an interesting aspect relevant to both films as it helps to foresee the events of what is to come from the plot. In Noseferatu, enclosed spaces evoke feelings of uneasiness and provide a sense of no escape. In Sunrise, the open space provides hope regarding the romance of the couple. Furthermore, the surroundings in particular spaces appear to
…show more content…
Near the beginning of the film when Hutter arrives at Count Orlok's castle, his fate seems given and dark immediately. The first camera shot of Count Orlok himself consists of him emerging from a dark and cave-like arch. This mysterious and unknown space is the first background to accompany Orlock's presence, which allows the audience to draw appropriate conclusions. As the door behind Hutter closes, the next shot visualizes his future by providing little to no route of escape. There is no visible view of the sky, or outside world in general, just tall walls with covered up windows. As Hutter continues to walk towards Orlok, there is no left or right turn in sight just the dark and mysterious cave. Even the camera captures each moment in the scene from a straight on angle. There are a few close ups, however, every other shot is from the angle of looking either away from, or towards the cave-like arc. Consequently, images alone hint to the audience that Hutter is now in a situation destined to go one way, and one way only. The feeling of the inevitable danger appears evident again during the scene where Ellen gazes out her window to see a line of men carrying what looks like coffins down the street. The men walk down the straight and narrow street in the same direction only as if it is a one-way street. Again, the camera captures …show more content…
When Orlok climbs out of the latched door, the curiosity on his face is important to recognize because it is the most emotion he seems to display in the film. His crooked smile is not evident when he waited in the lower part of the ship or anywhere else, in fact, he occupied a ghostly figure. Not only do uncanny surroundings enhance Orlok's character, his unusual actions and expressions in the environments not as such, alludes the idea that he does not belong there. Therefore, suggesting that Orlok will not last in environments that do not favor
Near the beginning of the film when Hutter arrives at Count Orlok's castle, his fate seems given and dark immediately. The first camera shot of Count Orlok himself consists of him emerging from a dark and cave-like arch. This mysterious and unknown space is the first background to accompany Orlock's presence, which allows the audience to draw appropriate conclusions. As the door behind Hutter closes, the next shot visualizes his future by providing little to no route of escape. There is no visible view of the sky, or outside world in general, just tall walls with covered up windows. As Hutter continues to walk towards Orlok, there is no left or right turn in sight just the dark and mysterious cave. Even the camera captures each moment in the scene from a straight on angle. There are a few close ups, however, every other shot is from the angle of looking either away from, or towards the cave-like arc. Consequently, images alone hint to the audience that Hutter is now in a situation destined to go one way, and one way only. The feeling of the inevitable danger appears evident again during the scene where Ellen gazes out her window to see a line of men carrying what looks like coffins down the street. The men walk down the straight and narrow street in the same direction only as if it is a one-way street. Again, the camera captures …show more content…
When Orlok climbs out of the latched door, the curiosity on his face is important to recognize because it is the most emotion he seems to display in the film. His crooked smile is not evident when he waited in the lower part of the ship or anywhere else, in fact, he occupied a ghostly figure. Not only do uncanny surroundings enhance Orlok's character, his unusual actions and expressions in the environments not as such, alludes the idea that he does not belong there. Therefore, suggesting that Orlok will not last in environments that do not favor