Robert Eggers’s horror film Nosferatu has captured the world with its captivating journey into the world of vampires, magic, and the dark arts. The film features Lily-Rose Depp’s character, Ellen Hutter, as a more prominent figure than in the original 1922 silent film. Her character has supernatural abilities, making her a crucial part of the story and the relationship she shares with Count Orlok.
Ellen’s powers include her ability to see the future, which is displayed in her first meeting with Professor Von Franz. She reveals that she had the ability to see the future for several years and knew details such as what her Christmas presents would be and when her mother would die. Von Franz describes Ellen’s ability as “second sight into the borderland” and believes that as she sleeps, her mind travels through the astral plane and connects with supernatural entities.
The remake differs from faithful adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, where Ellen’s counterpart, Mina Harker, develops a psychic link to the vampire after he sucks her blood. In contrast, Ellen is shown to be already highly conductive to these cosmic forces, and her powers play a significant role in defeating the evil vampire Orlok.
Throughout the film, Ellen’s abilities are showcased as she overcomes Orlok’s spell and torment and uses her gifts to destroy him. The way she accomplishes this proves that she is the true protagonist of the story. Robert Eggers’s remake explores her extraordinary psychic gift in greater detail and shows its connection to Orlok even more, making her an essential character in the film.