VERSUS THE SCARECROW EPISODE FOURTEEN: Shut Up!! I decided to challenge myself and really open the doors of my film knowledge and take on “The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide”. It’s 808 pages of movies and movie reviews from some of the most knowledgeable movie people you don’t know. It’s a book put together by a staff that praises, and destroys, some of our favorites and not so favorites. You can read the rest of my series here.
Just a quick refresher: each episode, I’m going to tackle three films from three different categories. Two films will be films I’ve never seen before and one will be one I’ve seen before or own. For the new films, well, new to me, I’m going to review them like a typical FTS review using the TOAST Rating system. But, for the films I’ve seen, I’m going give a quick paragraph or two about why I like or don’t like the film. We’ll try to include the poster and trailer for each film. “….and here. We. Go!”
This episode of Versus The Scarecrow is dedicated to silent film. I’ve previously reflected on the masterpiece that is Metropolis (Episode 6) but this time, I’ll be watching three silent films I have never seen before, so expect three reviews instead of the usual two and a reflection. I’ll be watching The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), and I’ll FINALLY get around to the quintessential silent classic Nosferatu (1922).
Nosferatu (1922) Directed by F.W. Murnau. Starring: Max Schreck, Greta Schröder, Ruth Landshoff . IMDB says: “Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter’s wife. Silent classic based on the story “Dracula.”
For months, maybe even years, Nosferatu has sat in the top 25 of my Netflix Instant Queue, changing position reminding me “Hey! I’m here! Watch me!”. I finally sat down to watch the seminal film and unfortunately, my expectations were not met. I was expecting to be blown away (much like I was for The Phantom of the Opera) because of the high praise surrounding the film. Yes, some scenes are creepy and yes there are a lot of effects that were impressive, but something felt off the entire time I watched the film. Every time I would get invested or intrigued, I would become detached from the film. It wasn’t the acting, or the sets, or even the sometimes-confusing story. It was the score.
Before we talk about the score, let’s talk about the story. It’s based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. So if you saw the Francis Ford Coppola film, you’ve seen Nosferatu, but with Keanu Reeves and Gary Oldman. Instead, we have a creepy Max Schreck who ends up giving Gary Oldman a run for his money with this performance. The film makes great use of color to show you different emotions the characters are feeling, and the performances are solid, but are overshadowed by Schreck.
I believe the version I watched on Netflix Instant Watch was a restored version with an updated score. It felt very 80s to me and threw off the vibe of the film. I get it, film restoration wasn’t that great back then, but I know somewhere there has to be a more traditional or original score to the film. A score that built suspense, tension, and made the hair on your neck stand up, making you question whether or not watching this was a good idea. Not one that at times sounded like a commercial for the iPhone. It was this that took me out of the film and nearly turned the fun of watching the film into a chore. Overall, the film is worth checking out, but don’t rush out to see it.
You can read the rest of episode 14 where I reviewed The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Phantom of the Opera. If you're interested in more, you can find the rest of the Versus The Scarecrow series here.