This article contains spoilers forNosferatu.
Anyone who seesWillem Dafoes name in the cast list forRobert EggerssNosferatuthinks they know what to expect.
Dafoe has worked with Eggers in the directors two most recent films, giving gonzo performances in each.
InThe Lighthouse, Dafoe channelsPatchy the Pirateto deliver ornate curses when his fellow lighthouse keeper insults his lobster.
And it is a wacky performance, to be sure.
Thus, the story is more or less the same as Dracula, just the characters have different names.
Count Dracula becomes Count Orlok.
Jonathan Harker becomes Thomas Hutter.
Mina Harker becomes Ellen Hutter.
And Abraham Van Helsing becomes…
Well, heres where it gets tricky.
But it often plays as condescension, an unwillingness to believe Jonathan Harkers wife (Isabelle Adjani).
Ladengasts skepticism falls in line with classical performances of Van Helsing.
To be sure, all of these takes have validity and their charms.
But as soon as Von Franz recognizes his old student, his demeanor changes and softens.
He embraces the younger man, not even acknowledging the plumes of dust coming from his jacket.
WithNosferatu, Eggers and Dafoe return Van Helsing to the story.
