The most-legendary German film director, Werner Herzog made this authentic remake, an often shot-by-shot-homage to the classic silent movie „Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror“ (1922).
Released in 1979, “Nosferatu the Vampyre” is as pure as a vampire movie can be and therefore an essential addition to the many film adaptations of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”. This is not a romanticized version, this is a bleak and melancholy approach, shot in beautiful real settings instead of sound stages and studios. The very slow pace of the movie allows the audience to frame and enjoy every single shot.
Werner-Herzog-collaborator Klaus Kinski ( “Fitzcarraldo”, “Woyzeck” ) delivers a haunting performance as Count Dracula, whereas the soundtrack by German Krautrock-band, Popol Vuh underlines the visual with a dark, repetitive and creepy background music.
For the film location, unique features that much of the original silent Nosfaratu was shot in Germany, especially in the northern German town of ‘Wismar’. Herzog, however throughout this film, used various selected stunning locations all over the globe such as Deft in the Netherlands, Mexico ( museum of mummy ), and the symbolic wild Transylvania peaks are apparently the High Tatra mountains of northeastern Slovakia.
There’s a memorable scenery in the film location of Germany is “Partnachklamm (Partnach Gorge)”, the Reintal valley near the south German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, far southwest of Munich.
The Gorge was designated a natural monument in 1912. Since then it’s been developed for sightseeing ( an entry fee required). Garmisch-Partenkirchen was the host town for the 1936 Winter Olympic Games, and is now a popular spot for winter sports and hiking.
Reference :
Popol Vuh – The original soundtrack for “Nosferatu” on Spotify
Location Reference :
Partnachklamm (Partnach Gorge) Address : 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Article contributed by Jens Helge Nave ( JHN )
JHN has worked as a consultant specialized in the music and culture industry for over two decades. Current position is the label manager of the Berlin-based music label Monkeytown records, which is owned by legendary techno-electronic music duo Modeselektor. The music label profoundly represents Berlin’s diverse music scene. JHN has also worked for the consulting agency Yadastar for 12 years, which was the founding and executing company of the global cultural platform, Red Bull Music Academy. JHN looks back at years of experience in consulting brands in the fields of music and culture and has helped to connect artists and brands on a global level through events and contents.
