Shadow of the Vampire

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

  • 81% of critics liked it
    (135 reviews)

  • 69% of users liked it
    (23,503 ratings)

The torturous production of the classic 1922 vampire film Nosferatu is recreated in this stylized account of director F.W. Murnau and his obsession with creating realistic horror by any means necessary -- even if those means include actual bloodletting. The film begins as Murnau (John Malkovich) is… More

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R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By
E. Elias Merhige
Written By
Steven Katz
Genres
Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
In Theaters
Dec 29, 2000 Wide
On DVD
May 29, 2001
Lions Gate Releasing

Critic Reviews

  • David Edelstein, Slate

    The screenplay, by Steven Katz, suffers from arch, almost unspeakably theatrical dialogue, and, as Murnau, John Malkovich recites his lines as if monomania were synonymous with monotonic: He drains the drama of blood.

  • Todd McCarthy, Variety

    Wholly absorbing and inspired in parts, this carefully crafted curio dares to suggest that Murnau made a Faustian pact with an actual vampire to play the title role in exchange for the neck of the film's leading lady at production's end.

  • Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

    It's a marvelous, resonant joke that never quite succeeds: Stretches of the film resemble a Dario Argento horrorfest crossed with a Mel Brooks spoof.

  • Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

    Out of such dizzying layers of (un)reality, some sublime films have emerged. Nosferatu was one of them, and this is not -- but, c'mon, credit it with the old college try, a pretty decent effort.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    This stupid and demeaning fantasy about the shooting of F.W. Murnau's 1922 masterpiece Nosferatu is a piece of postmodernist kitsch whose only redeeming quality is an enjoyably over-the-top, eye-rolling performance by Willem Dafoe.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Aditya G


    Year 1921: German director Frederich Wilhelm Murnau set out to make a film on Bram Stoker's famous Vampire fiction, "Dracula". He however failed to acquire the rights to use the novel's story. Unwilling to give up on the project, Murnau made a few changes here… More

  • Tim S


    Quirky and well acted but a bit slow at times.

  • Conner R


    Willem Dafoe's deranged performance as Max Shreck is completely worth this movie. However, it is actually a very good movie in itself. I loved the remade shots of Nosferatu, they are incredibly dead on. While the filming style is a little sub-par, it is a minor drawback.

  • Morgan S


    Willem Dafoe is sooo CREEPY!! So much like the original...John Malkovich, who I am usually on the fece on, I like...I was also pleasenty surprised to see Cary Elwes. I always enjoy him. OO THAT willem Dafoe..as in Boondock Saints lol.

  • Arash X


    Very interesting premise but hasn't executed very well & you can feel that something's missing specially near the end, Dafoe rules in this

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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