Robert Eggers’ highly anticipated Nosferatu might still be a few months away from its December 25 release date, but star Bill Skarsgård has already given us plenty to ponder about his role as the iconic vampire. The remake of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 German expressionist classic features Skarsgård in the eerie role of Count Orlok, alongside a standout cast including Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Ineson.
Skarsgård Keeps His Look Under Wraps
While some exciting stills of cast members like Hoult and Dafoe have surfaced, Skarsgård’s appearance remains tightly under wraps. Addressing this mystery in an interview with Esquire, the IT star hinted at a portrayal designed to elicit mixed feelings. When asked if his version of Nosferatu is sexy, Skarsgård responded:
He’s gross […] But it is very sexualized. It’s playing with a sexual fetish about the power of the monster and what that appeal has to you. Hopefully you’ll get a little bit attracted by it and disgusted by your attraction at the same time.
The Journey into Darkness
Skarsgård delved deep into darkness to prepare for this demanding role. According to Esquire, he worked with an opera singer to lower his voice significantly and underwent extensive makeup and prosthetics sessions lasting three to six hours daily. The rigorous schedule and intense process left him largely isolated from the rest of the cast during both preparation and shooting phases. Explaining his isolation, Skarsgård noted:
It took its toll. It was like conjuring pure evil. It took a while for me to shake off the demon that had been conjured inside of me.
An Acting Transformation
The dedication Skarsgård showed didn’t go unnoticed. Director Robert Eggers himself was stunned by Skarsgård’s level of commitment:
I remember early on, him trying to talk to me about what it meant to be a dead sorcerer—and I’m into some pretty heavy occult shit, but he was on a different level.
This transformation was so profound that Eggers feared it might obscure just how much effort went into creating this character:
I’ll say that Bill has so transformed, I’m fearful that he might not get the credit that he deserves because he’s just… he’s not there.
A Promising Horror Classic
The anticipation surrounding Nosferatu isn’t surprising given Eggers’ impressive track record with films like The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman. He describes Nosferatu as:
Yeah, it’s a scary film. It’s a horror movie. It’s a Gothic horror movie. And I do think that there hasn’t been an old-school Gothic movie that’s actually scary in a while. And I think that the majority of audiences will find this one to be the case.
With such endorsements and insights from its key players, Nosferatu promises not just a trip back into vintage horror but also a fresh take on what truly terrifies us.
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