Shadow Of The Vampire

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Horrorphile - June 2009

Shadow Of The Vampire

June 18th 2009 00:59

Legend has it that German Expressionist director F.W. Murnau made a Faustian pact with his star Max Schreck whilst filming one of the greatest vampire tales of all-time: Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922). If we’re to believe the events of Shadow of the Vampire (2000), Schreck was a real vampire whom Murnau believed would infuse his motion picture with an unprecedented level of authenticity and provide its silver (nitrate) lining with a supernatural kudos. In return Schreck would get the neck of his female star Greta … for real.

Director E. Elias Merhige, who made the extraordinary and otherworldly avant garde Begotten (1990) dispatches any overt surrealist touches, in favour of a more conventional style of narrative. However he elicits superbly stylized performances from the entire cast; John Malkovich revels in his usual histrionics, but brings to megalomaniacal life the role of Murnau, a tortured and driven cineaste artiste, but it is Willem Dafoe as Schreck who not only captures the role of Graf Orlock with effortlessness, but as Schreck he brings the man (rather ironically) creepily and passionately alive.

John Malkovich as F.W. Murnau

Eddie Izzard and Catherine McCormack are both excellent as the intense Gustav and arrogant lush Greta respectively, Cary Elwes is surprisingly endearing as replacement cinematographer Wagner, and cult favourite Udo Kier adds his own distinct Bavarian flavour as anxious producer Grau. It’s a perfectly cast movie.

Willem Dafoe as Max Schreck

The screenplay by Steven Katz (the working title was Burned To Light) is a delicate, hazy portrait of desperation and obsession. Just who is the real monster here; Schreck or Murnau? Certainly Schreck is portrayed as a truly grotesque character that has only one thing on his mind: the luscious swan neck of Greta, although several other crew members fall foul of his bloodlust alolng the way, most notably the movie’s first director of photography Muller (Ronan Vibert). There is the blackest sense of humour lying just below the surface, dark as midnight on a moonless night.

Shadow of the Vampire Catherine McCormack and Cary Elwes

Catherine McCormack as Greta and Cary Elwes as Wagner

Of course if you’ve seen Nosferatu this dramatisation of the making of that movie will no doubt be all the more fascinating. Murnau wanted to make Bram Stoker’s brilliant novel Dracula, but the Stoker estate refused him permission, so he simply changed the name of the vampire to Graf (Count) Orlock and the movie title to Nosferatu (phantom of the night). If you’re not familiar with either Nosferatu or the tale of Dracula (what rock have you been living under?!), Shadow of the Vampire will still entertain indeed. It’s swiftly-paced and has delightful moments of floating menace and richly-etched characterisations.

Udo Kier as Grau

Nicolas Cage was co-producer, and I couldn’t help wondering if he’d imagined himself playing Murnau (no doubt he’d have relished playing over-the-top just as Malkovich does, but Malkovich has that nasty edge Cage simply doesn’t possess). Apparently Dafoe was always first choice to play Schreck, and he was nominated for a Supporting Actor Academy Award for his amazing performance. The movie was also nominated for Best Make-Up. It was nominated for and won numerous other international awards.

Shadow of the Vampire Catherine McCormack, Willem Dafoe, John Malkovich, Udo Kier, Cary Elwes

The filmmakers wait for Schreck who is intoxicated with Greta's blood

The Region 4 DVD transfer was of grainy low-quality, but there are plenty of extras to get your teeth into. It would make a great double feature with Nosferatu itself. Perhaps even make it a triple with Coppola’s theatrically-stylised attempt at the novel Bram Stoker’s Dracula (2002). Rather curiously Elwes stars in both Shadow and Dracula, and Kier starred as the Count in Jess Franco’s Dracula Cerca Sangue Di Vergine ... E Morì Di Sete!!! (1974) and as a vampire in Blade (1998).

Here is the trailer:

Shadow Of The Vampire DVD is courtesy of Madman Entertainment, many thanks!

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

9 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Natalina

June 18th 2009 23:55

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

This was a great movie. And it has some of my favorite people in it. John Malkovich is incredible. A tiny smidgey of a one trick pony (I only say this because he's pretty much John Malkovich in all of his roles) there is no one else like him. There are certain roles that could not have been played by anyone else. This is one of them. I sort of have a wee crush on him. He did this hilarious monologue on Saturday Night Live just this last Christmas where he reads Twas the Night Before Christmas to a group of kids, and he gets all neurotic and crazy and scares the children. It's marvelous!

I would be content to watch Willem Dafoe read a Farmer's Almanac, as he is one of the greatest actors and personalities ever. He MADE this movie.

Strangely, many of the people to whom I have recommended this flick didn't like it. I can't understand why.

Comment by Damo

June 19th 2009 00:14

Bryn one of the disadvantages of an increased business is having less time to dedicate to reading your reviews. (which are consistently excellent)

This film I saw come through before Copella's flick and I was a bit reluctant to see it.

I wish I had have taken the time to see this. It looks rustic and haunting at the same time.

Comment by Bryn

June 19th 2009 00:27

Horrorphile

Natalina, thank you for commenting! I can't believe the review has been up for over 24 hours and you're the first! I'd have thought a title like this would've brought all sorts of people a-looking ... And strange that others don't like it, but I guess it is a little of an acquired taste, perhaps it's the pitch black sense of humour, and the grotesque nature of both the lead characters. Willem Dafoe should've won the Osar for his role, I wonder who beat him? I totally agree about Malkovich being a one-of-a-kind. Have you seen The Sheltering Sky, that is probably my favourite performance of his (hmmmm, I should review that for Cult Projections)

Comment by Bryn

June 19th 2009 00:29

Horrorphile

Damo, good to see you! Yes, you'd love this! I'm sure it would pop up now and again on SBS ... But your local video store should have it.

Comment by Natalina

June 19th 2009 01:33

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

I have not seen The Sheltering Sky, but it is on my list. You should review it. Btw, Benicio Del Toro won that year for his role in Traffic.

Here's that sketch from SNL. You'll appreciate it! "When I was a child, we used to suck on pennies. And it was a delight." Too funny!

Comment by Bryn

June 19th 2009 02:40

Horrorphile

I found Traffic kinda overrated. Benicio was extraordinary in Soderbergh's Che, which I saw at this year's Sydney Film Fesitval. The movie (all four hours of it, broken into two parts) seems to have been snubbed in America.
That SNL clip is refusing to upload ... grrr!
You'd love Sheltering Sky! That settles it, I'm gonna have to get a copy to review (I should've a long time ago!).

Comment by Natalina

June 19th 2009 02:47

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

I look forward to it!

Hmmm. I though NBC vids were viewable in Australia. Here's the link.

Really Long Link

Comment by JohnDoe

July 2nd 2009 20:21

Film & TV on DVD

This is a film that once engrossed I found it hard not to believe. Ingenious blend of fact and fiction pulled of by focused storytelling, empathetic direction and brilliant performances.

Comment by Bryn

July 2nd 2009 22:59

Horrorphile

JD, knew you'd agree. Dafoe should've got the Oscar.

[ Previous - Horror QUIZ #27: Know your zombie movie, know your vampire movie, know your werewolf movie … ]

[ Next - El Rey de la Montaña ]

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