Shadow of the Vampire is a movie that was released in 2000 starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. This movie is a fictional version of the making of the classic 1922 vampire movie, Nosferatu. Now before I start with this review, I must say that I also watched the original 1922 movie on Youtube. The reason why I did that was because I want to compare the original Max Schreck to the Max Schreck in this movie. And that way, my review would be a little bit better.
As stated, the movie sets in 1922. German director Friedrich Wilheim Murnau, played by John Malkovich, and his crew on are set to travel to Czechoslovakia and Poland in order to the Nosferatu movie, which is an unauthorized version of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. Friedrich informs his crew the person that is going to play the role as Count Orlok, and that's a german theater performer named Max Schreck, played by Willem Dafoe.
But in order to involve himself fully in his character, he will appear only at night with the crew in full make-up and in full character. But later on the movie, we find out the Max is actually a real vampire and he has made a deal with Friedrich, so that Friedrich could his flim absolutely realistic. And if he does that, Max will have Greta Scroeder, played by Catherine McCormack, as his prize. That's basically the story of the movie and it's pretty good. You don't really see these types of stories in movies lately, where the story will take place at a true event. In this case, this movie is dealing with the behind of the scenes of the first ever vampire movie. But, they add something in the story that can make it fictional. I do like on how they make the story that way.
All the characters in this movie are good. They do have solid character development and it makes it feel like that's how they actually were in real life, for the exception of Max Schreck because they made him a real vampire in this movie. Max Schreck a.k.a. Count Orlok is easily the best character in this movie. I don't know if it's his character or whatnot. But there is something about him that just makes him the best character in this movie. However, there was one character, in particular, that I felt that didn't get a whole lot of character development and that's Fritz Arno Wagner, the cinematographer that is played by Cary Elwes. The reason why I felt that he didn't enough development was that he was introduced almost a few scenes before the end and then he dies around the end. I mean, you do get to learn a little about him. But more would have been nice.
The movie's main setting is an old castle in Czechoslovakia and it does look pretty good in this movie. It actually looks like it was from the actual Nosferatu movie. The makeup used on Willem Dafoe for his role as Count Orlok looks incredible. It looks just like how the real Nosferatu look like that the real Max Schreck played. In fact, the makeup received a nomination for Best Makeup in the oscars. One of my effects in this movie is when the movie will sometimes change from color to black and white, when you are viewing through the lenses of a camera. Not the only did the makeup received a nomination in the oscars, Willem Dafoe received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Dafoe is great for the doing the role of Max Schreck. He obviously looks like him, in many ways. I think Catherine McCormack is a great choice to play the role as Greta Schroeder. Eddie Lizard did a fine job for doing the role of Gustav von Wangenheim and John Malkovich is great has Friedrich. The music is good in this movie, but I felt that there wasn't enough of it.
Overall, Shadow of the Vampire is a superb movie. It definitely captures the feel of what made the first Vampire movie ever and seeing Willem Dafoe playing as Count Orok really makes this movie shine in many ways. If you love the 1922 movie or if you are a Vampire freak, then Shadow of the Vampire is the movie for you.
9.5 out of 10
Chapter 11: