WARNING: Major spoilers for Nosferatu ahead
Robert Eggers’ vampire horror movie Nosferatu is a slow-burning narrative that builds a sense of dread, but it also contains moments that are genuinely shocking. The film, starring Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, borrows heavily from Eastern European folklore to create a nightmarish new iteration of the familiar story about a mysterious Transylvanian nobleman terrorizing a city in Western Europe, and in particular a newlywed couple.
While some have observed that Nosferatu isn’t as “scary” as other modern horror films, the film is not lacking in shock value. In fact, there are 10 moments that stand out as the most shocking, and they’ve been ranked in order of how shocking or traumatizing they are.
One of the most shocking moments is when Thomas Hutter is pulled into the carriage, which is low on the list due to the pace at which it unfolds. As Thomas sets out to walk to Count Orlok’s castle, he finds himself on a dark road lit only by the moon and the glistening snowfall. He is soon approached by a carriage coming at him at full speed before it screeches to a stop. From there, he enters a dreamlike state, and is silently pulled into the carriage by an unseen force.
Another shocking moment is the final scene, where Ellen Hutter invites Count Orlok back to her bedroom to re-pledge herself to him. With her husband and the others seeking Orlok in his broken-down mansion, Ellen comes face-to-face with Orlok on her own, and agrees to commit to him in order to save those she loves, and the entire city of Wisborg. The two disrobe and fall to her bed to consummate their “marriage” as any other newlyweds might.
However, unlike a typical romantic scene, Ellen’s self-sacrifice and consummation of her commitment to the ultimate evil isn’t sudden, but what it lacks in jump-scare effect it makes up for in sheer potency. Orlok’s desire is to feed on Ellen’s blood, and opens her chest with ravenous hunger and begins to drink. The scene plays out as a dramatic and powerful final scene, leaving the audience with a lasting image.
These shocking moments, along with others, demonstrate that Nosferatu is not just a slow-burning narrative, but also a film that explores the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in a horror film.
