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Forgotten Film Friday: Shadow of the Vampire

A review by Brooks Rich

It took way too long for this film to be covered on the blog. I love movies about filmmaking and this might be my favorite one of all time. A creepy but at times hilarious satire of doing everything for the craft and getting the film made, today we look at the forgotten 2000 masterpiece, Shadow of the Vampire.

John Malkovich plays real life German Expressionism director FW Murnau who in 1921 is on location with his cast and crew in Czechoslovakia to shoot an unsanctioned adaptation of Dracula called Nosferatu. He has the mysterious Max Schreck, an Oscar nominated Willem Dafoe, playing the film's vampire Count Orlock. Unbeknownst to everyone but Murnau, Schreck is a vampire in real life and Murnau has promised him a human sacrifice for appearing in his film.

The film turns the making of Nosferatu, in my opinion the greatest silent film of all time, into a Faustian deal with the devil. It's clear from the outset that Murnau is in way over his head but he never backs out of the deal, knowing that he is creating what will be his masterpiece. The tagline of this film could be Art Above All Else. Nothing else matters to Murnau. If some of his cast and crew have to be killed by a vampire for him to achieve perfection, so be it.

Comedy and horror go hand in this film. The horror doesn't work without the satire and vice versa. The main selling point of this film are the two leads.  I think this is Dafoe's best performance. He is a brilliant actor and one of my favorites but I think this is the highlight of his career. He is fantastic as Schreck and plays him both comedically and as a true horror villain. Malkovich as Murnau is a perfect foil for him and their odd relationship is the highlight of that balance between comedy and horror.

It probably helps if you've seen Nosferatu. But if you have seen Nosferatu and have never seen this film, track this down immediately. I think it is well worth your time.


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