Willem Dafoe has a history withNosferatu.
Murnau (John Malkovich) to provide authenticity to the 1922 picture.
Willem Dafoes performance inShadow of the Vampire(2000) had a formative influence on Eggers too.
But, you know, hes familiar with the material and he likes it.
And when you see the movie, it makes sense.
Also like the real-life Grau, Von Franz is a natural true believer.
Whether true or not, Grau certainly had a keen interest in the occult.
After the war, he co-founded the studio Prana Film, whose first movie wasNosferatu.
And Prana is a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to the life-giving breath.
You could see why anyone would want to play that.
