Robert Eggers’ masterful new vampire film is conclusive proof that he is one of the finest directors working today – he is without a doubt my personal favourite too.
This is the most immersive cinematic experience; every second lives and breathes all possible sights and sounds. It is the closest we will ever come to time travel, I feel. The 19th-century city streets are unbelievably realistic, the castle is easily the best out of all Dracula adaptations, and the interiors of the houses are gorgeous. The costumes are immaculate.
This is the most immersive cinematic experience; every second lives and breathes all possible sights and sounds. It is the closest we will ever come to time travel, I feel.
Everything Eggers could do in terms of research is fulfilled to perfection. So many times, he follows Bram Stoker’s exact descriptions in his original novel (The Caleche, the Garlic, the Tomb…) and is constantly faithful to the 1922 original film from which he is adapting. He knows traditional vampiric lore and Romanian gypsy beliefs; even the music briefly played in the gypsy camp is authentic to the time. And it is all of this that makes him phenomenal. He is truly one of the most fascinating filmmakers of all time. I only wish everyone could have his thirst for knowledge and strive for historical detail.
It’s also exquisitely shot. The shadow work is mesmerising; the use of light and dark visuals drives the wider good vs. evil theme, and the symmetry – oh my god – it’s unreal. It makes the film a visual feast. It’s so satisfying to watch as everything is perfectly halved and paired on the screen. The score is also amazing. Just hearing the echoes of boots treading the cold stone steps of the castle is so immersive. It heightens the dread, the tension, and the horror right to the extreme.
I haven’t even got into the performances yet. Lily-Rose Depp – there are no words. One of the most physically demanding yet incredible performances I have ever seen – the way she has to contort herself, react, and suddenly switch behaviours is remarkable. But everyone in the cast excels. I could shout them all out, from Nicholas Hoult to Emma Corrin to the 2,000 actual living rats scurrying around – they are all excellent. It perhaps loses its way a couple of times or doesn’t quite fit (maybe that’s me being picky). I also wanted a bit more to Willem Dafoe’s character, but that’s only because I just want him to shine.
Lily-Rose Depp – there are no words. One of the most physically demanding yet incredible performances I have ever seen – the way she has to contort herself, react, and suddenly switch behaviours is remarkable.
But it’s just phenomenal. And to top it all off, it’s terrifying and unsettling for the entire run time. A Robert Eggers masterclass once again.
