Few remakes generate as much anticipation as Robert Eggers' Nosferatu. Known for his talent for recreating historical atmospheres in The Witch and The Lighthouse, Eggers promises to give new life to the classic from 1922. Jarin Blaschke, the producer of Nosferatu, explains in the magazine Definition that the project was intended to be done in 2016, but was delayed due to creative disagreements.
The Choice of Spaces
The Nosferatu remake is much more than a simple recreation. Eggers has focused on capturing the essence of German expressionism while bringing a contemporary perspective. The production combines historical locations with meticulously designed sets.
The goal was to recreate Germany in the 14th century, which required creating the interiors from scratch since there is no block completely preserved in the city. The team transformed a small German town into a setting that evokes the gloomy world of the original, complemented by a Romanian castle that intensifies the mystery and sense of terror.
Robert Eggers began looking for suitable castles for filming in 2016, when the patina gave the space a sober atmosphere. However, upon resuming the filming of the project, many castles had been restored, and the interior looked clean and freshly painted.
Lighting: Key to Terror
Lighting is one of the pillars of the production of Nosferatu. Inspired by the dramatic shadows of expressionist cinema, Eggers uses natural light sources and technical artifices to create shots that seem like living paintings.
Shots illuminated by moonlight are a significant challenge, as it is difficult to create believable lighting that is not too dark. Blaschke assures that Eggers does not shoot with natural light for daytime scenes; that's why he created a mirror system to generate a distant and realistic light source. He adds:
“We use convex mirrors to scatter the light, which makes it more difficult because it optically reduces the source. [...] It’s a shortcut for when you can’t move the source far enough to make it as hard as you want.”
Challenges in Filming
Robert Eggers is known for his meticulousness. This director not only oversees every technical aspect but also gets involved in artistic decisions such as shot design and scene choreography.
A problem in filming began with the castle's ambiance, which required 5,000 rats, although 20,000 were needed to fill the room completely. Rugs that simulate rats were used, and the rest were added in post-production.
The filming lasted 65 days, and they chose to shoot with an Arriflex ST, which helped with the aesthetics to respect the work of F. W. Murnau. To capture as much light as possible, a high-speed lens created by Dan Sasaki was used. Although it is not filmed in black and white, the color palette is carefully controlled to reflect the spirit of the original. Instead of relying on modern techniques like excessive aerial shots, Eggers utilizes smooth movements and natural transitions that evoke a classic feel.
