"Nosferatu," directed by F.W. Murnau in 1922, is a silent horror film that is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula." The film tells the story of Count Orlok, a sinister vampire, and his dark influence over the town of Wisborg.
The plot begins when a young real estate agent named Thomas Hutter is sent to Transylvania to finalize a property deal with Count Orlok. Upon arriving at the Count's eerie castle, Hutter quickly realizes that Orlok is not an ordinary landlord but a monstrous creature who feeds on the blood of the living. After a series of unsettling encounters, Hutter escapes the castle but is bitten by Orlok, who decides to move to Wisborg.
Orlok arrives in the town in a coffin filled with dirt, bringing with him an aura of dread and a pestilence that sweeps through Wisborg. Hutter's wife, Ellen, begins to sense the dark presence of Orlok. As the town descends into chaos due to the plague, Ellen learns of a way to defeat the vampire: she must sacrifice herself to lure him away from the town.
In a climactic and tragic final showdown, Ellen confronts Count Orlok, leading him to her house. She willingly offers her blood to him, which ultimately destroys the vampire at the break of dawn. The film ends with Orlok's death as the sun rises, yet the lingering effects of his malevolence haunt Wisborg.
"Nosferatu" is notable for its expressionistic cinematography, eerie atmosphere, and iconic performance by Max Schreck as Count Orlok, influencing countless horror films that followed. The film thematically explores fear, death, and the struggle between good and evil, leaving a lasting legacy in cinematic history.