Shadow of the Vampire (5 Stars)

After watching "Nosferatu" on Saturday I felt inclined to rewatch the 1922 version of the film for comparison. I changed my mind and picked up "Shadow of the Vampire" instead. When's the last time I watched it? It was before I started writing my blog, so I have no exact date. I remember seeing it in the cinema in 2001, at a time when I rarely visited the cinema. It was one of the first films I bought on DVD, probably in 2003. I know I watched it a few times, but it was long, long ago. For this reason it was a good idea to choose it today.

The film follows F. W. Murnau and his filming of "Nosferatu" in 1922. Rather than tell the true story as a biopic, it tells a fantasy version of the story. Max Schreck, the man who was to play Count Orlok, wasn't an actor; he was a real vampire. After discovering him, Murnau asked him to appear in his film in exchange for being given the German actress Greta Schröder as his bride.

All went well on the film set, until Schreck got hungry and started to eat other members of the cast and crew. Murnau fights to keep Schreck's true identity a secret.

From my description the film might sound like a comedy, but it's played seriously. Willem Dafoe is genuinely scary as Max Schreck the vampire. It's tragic that this magnificent film has been forgotten with the passing of time. Despite its critical success, it's no longer available for purchase except for a Spanish Blu-ray. It has the original English version.

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