Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

Synopsis of Shadow of the Vampire

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 ready to take his unauthorized interpretation of the Bram Stoker tale on location in Czechoslovakia. There, the director has arranged for his cast and crew to live in the same castle in which they will shoot their parts, as they all wait for their co-star, Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe) -- Murnau's choice to play Count Orlok -- to arrive. Their leader has warned them that Schreck is a student of the Stanislovsky method of performance and will not respond to them out-of-character. Nothing, however, can prepare them for the real thing: when the actor arrives, he's already in full Gothic regalia, asserting that he is indeed a vampire. Schreck makes good on his claims by terrorizing the cast and crew, attacking Murnau's original cinematographer (Wolfgang Muller) and plucking bats out of the air for midnight snacks. Director E. Elias Merhige previously made his name with his experimental theater productions and with his horrific film school thesis, Begotten. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

See All Shadow of the Vampire Trailers and Clips

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

91 mins

Director(s):

E. Elias Merhige

Writer(s):

Steven Katz

Producer(s):

Nicolas Cage, Jeff Levine

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

R(Sexual Situations, Profanity, Violence, Drug Content)

Categories:

Independent Films, Horror

• 2000 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Supporting Actor
• 2000 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actor

Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

Looking for special editions of Shadow of the Vampire?

See All Versions

Subtitles:

Check All Versions

Closed Captioning:

Check All Versions