Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
- Starring:
- John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, (more)
- Director(s):
- E. Elias Merhige
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
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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
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 91 mins
Complete Cast of Shadow of the Vampire
- John Malkovich - FW. Murnau
- Cary Elwes - Fritz Wagner
- Udo Kier - Albin Grau
- Ronan Vibert - Wolfgang Muller
- Willem Dafoe - Max Schreck
- Eddie Izzard - Gustav Von Wangerheim
- Catherine McCormack - Greta Schroeder
- Director(s):
- E. Elias Merhige
- Writer(s):
- Steven Katz
- Producer(s):
- Jeff Levine, Nicolas Cage
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Sexual Situations, Violence, Drug Content, Profanity)
- Categories:
- Horror, Independent Films
- 2000 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Supporting Actor
- 2000 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actor
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