Nosferatu Symbolism

Decent Essays
German Expression: Nosferatu
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror directed by F.W. Murnau in 1922 is one the first and few German Expressionist films created. It was coined as a horror film and a unauthorized version of Bram Stokers novel Dracula written in 1897. Nosferatu is about a vampire, Count Orlock, it was also one he first horror films ever produced.
German expression was shown in great detailed in this film. There were. A few points that stood out to the most. Some were symbolic of the time the film was created. While others was portray what a character was feeling or should be feeling. Starting with the scene when Thomas Hunter’s wife Ellen was being summoned by Count Orlock. As she got out of the bed she was walking on her tippy toes but was giving off the appearance of her floating to the beckoning call of the vampire Also, There are times in the movie when Orlock hands look extremely small and his head
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The various bugs being displayed were all predators and prey. Which also coincides with Count Orlocks character being a predatory person and the people of the village are the prey. It can also relate to criminals or devious people and their victims, predators and prey. Another example of animal symbolism in the fil is when Count Orlock and the rats arrive to the village via boat/ ship. This symbolized the sailors and the rats bringing the black death plague to the villages on its journey. In Europe it was believed the plague- was brought from city to city and country to country on ships a carried by the sailor’s and rats aboard the ships. The Plague caused its victims to experience a psychosis, sickness and finally death. If a person were bitten by the Count or a rat the same symptoms and end results would occur. Adding the symbolism of the animals was great way to express the relationship between humans and animals and how behavior is similar for both

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