Nosferatu: Willem Dafoe acted alongside thousands of rats
Nosferatu: Willem Dafoe acted alongside thousands of rats – In Nosferatu, Dafoe plays a vampire hunter who embarks on a mission to confront Count Orlok.
By Megan Sauer
Willem Dafoe, renowned Hollywood actor, has shared an unusual experience on the set of the upcoming film Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers.
This collaboration marks Dafoe’s third time working under Eggers’ direction, following his previous collaborations on The Lighthouse (2019) and The Northman (2022).
In Nosferatu, Dafoe plays a vampire hunter who embarks on a mission to confront the main character, Count Orlok, played by Bill Skarsgård. His goal is to save Ellen Hutter, played by Lily-Rose Depp.
One of the film’s notable scenes takes place in a cemetery and features live fire visual effects as well as the involvement of thousands of live rats.
Director Robert Eggers revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly (via IndieWire ) that the sequence involved the use of 2,000 real rats on set, which presented a challenge and a unique experience for the cast and crew.
Eggers compared Willem Dafoe ‘s character to Sherlock Holmes, while Ralph Ineson plays his sidekick, Dr. Wilhelm Sievers, a Watson equivalent. This dynamic between the main characters promises to offer a unique perspective in this new adaptation of the iconic vampire story.
However, Eggers emphasizes that, despite the presence of talented actors like Dafoe and Ineson, Nosferatu is really an acting showcase for Bill Skarsgård, who, to prepare for the role of Count Orlok, worked with an opera coach to lower his tone of voice in a full octave.
In addition to highlighting the challenge of working with thousands of rats on a film production, this revelation from the set of Nosferatu underscores Eggers’ commitment to practical effects rather than resorting to CGI technology.
This focus on authenticity and visual quality has been a hallmark of Eggers’ previous films and has been well received by critics and audiences.
The choice to use real rats for the cemetery scene may have been a logistical challenge, but it also demonstrates Eggers and his team’s commitment to creating an authentic and terrifying atmosphere for this adaptation of Nosferatu.
The presence of the rats, along with other practical elements, promises to immerse the audience in the filmmaker’s dark and sinister narrative.
Nosferatu has been an iconic work in film history since its first version in 1922 directed by FW Murnau.
The story of Count Orlok, an unauthorized interpretation of Bram Stoker ‘s Dracula, has influenced countless films and left an indelible mark on the horror genre.
This new adaptation promises to offer a fresh and chilling take on the classic, backed by a talented cast and creative direction.
The revelation of Willem Dafoe ‘s experience with the thousands of rats on the set of Nosferatu adds an additional element of anticipation and curiosity surrounding this highly anticipated film.
Horror film fans and followers of Eggers’ work will be eager to see how this shocking scene fits into the film’s overall plot and how it will contribute to the story’s unsettling atmosphere.
As Nosferatu continues production and approaches its release date, we’ll continue to stay tuned for additional news and details about this exciting adaptation of one of horror cinema’s most beloved classics.
For those curious who have not seen the original film, you can find it on the Internet free of copyright, and its remake directed by Werner Herzog can be found on Amazon on DVD.
