This is more of a mini bonus review because not only does it break my rule of foreign language productions but I’m also a little burned out on all this Dracula talk.
It has all the basic parts to the formula we’re familiar
with including Hutter (the Harker character here) going to Transylvania to have
Count Orlok sign a contract to buy a piece of land, Orlok then feeds on Hutter,
travels to Germany (I think?) by ship, Hutter escapes the castle with his life
intact and Orlok goes after Hutter’s wife, Ellen (Mina). There’s even a Renfield type character and a
black coach that takes Hutter to Castle Orlok.
Max Schreck as Orlok is pretty damn creepy and I think
because it’s a silent picture it only adds to the eerie aura. Those long fingers, slender figure, black
coat with a zillion buttons, huge fangs and crazy ass eyes make for grotesque imagery. For me this is the only incarnation of
Dracula that looks a bit scary (although Gary Oldman dressed up as the very old
Dracula isn’t very pleasant to look at either).
Orlok is only in this thing for something like nine minutes but he makes
the movie.
It’s another solid telling of the tale but you have to have
a little patience. Silents aren’t for
everyone and the soundtrack plays a substantial role. The version that I’ve seen (the one that you
can rent on Netflix) has a pretty bad one.
It’s too light most of the time and doesn’t fit with the time period at
all. But if you don’t care for the
musical accompaniment you can supply your own which could be a saving grace.
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