Why Willem Dafoe Is A Perfect Fit For Robert Eggers Nosferatu

It’s been a while since we’ve heard any substantial developments from Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake. The project was originally announced in 2015 with hardly a peep out of Eggers since. Only a handful of affirmations that it was still in development ever showed that it even existed. But, it was recently revealed that a frequent collaborator of Eggers’, Willem Dafoe, has officially signed onto the project as part of its cast. It’s a good sign that things may be finally underway for the Nosferatu remake.

If you’ve seen Robert Eggers’ previous films, specifically The Lighthouse and The Northman, you likely recognize just how big a deal Dafoe’s involvement is. Combining Eggers’ direction and Dafoe’s incredible acting ability previously brought out the best of both of them, creating memorable characters with prominent staying power in the public eye. Let’s not forget that Dafoe’s character from The Lighthouse, Thomas Wake, even became a popular meme for a few months after the film’s original release. With Eggers and Dafoe teaming up for Nosferatu, let’s take a look at why the acclaimed actor is a perfect fit for the upcoming remake.

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Dafoe and Eggers Are a Perfect Pairing

     A24  

Even if you don’t necessarily care about Nosferatu, you can’t deny that Willem Dafoe and Robert Eggers are a perfect pairing. Dafoe’s performance in The Lighthouse was absolutely legendary, as he perfectly morphed into the character of Thomas Wake. Underneath the scraggly facial hair, incoherent period-accurate ramblings, and his complex feelings towards Thomas Howard, you’d be hard-pressed to find any part of Dafoe acting out of character. It was a brilliant performance, with his furious rant about lobsters and Triton’s rage about being unfairly snubbed at the Oscars.

Even from his comparatively minor role in The Northman, his performance as Heimir the Fool helped sell the authenticity of its setting while contributing to the overall quality of the film. Slate even praised Dafoe’s limited performance, all while chiding his off-screen death and critiquing the rest of the film as being “a lot less fun” without his presence. Granted, The Northman isn’t necessarily a “fun” film to begin with, but you can understand the sentiment. Dafoe has a way of injecting a surprising amount of energy and engagement into his scenes. Once it’s unceremoniously removed, there’s a definite impact on the surrounding film.

Dafoe Has Experience with Nosferatu

     Lionsgate Films  

In a strange coincidence, Willem Dafoe already has experience with Nosferatu. The 2000 horror-comedy film Shadow of a Vampire showcased the creation of the original Noserfatu through the eyes of F.W. Murnau, played by John Malkovich. Willem Dafoe would don the bald cap and long nails of Nosferatu as he played the character’s actor, Max Schreck. In a shocking twist, however, it’s revealed that Max Schreck is an actual vampire.

While Dafoe’s specific role in the Nosferatu remake is yet to be determined, we can reasonably assume that his performance in Shadow of a Vampire may set the stage for him to become the bloodsucking monster once again. Being a meta-story about Nosferatu’s production, Shadow of a Vampire includes several scenes that directly ape Nosferatu’s most famous moments. Suffice it to say, Dafoe absolutely kills it. Side-by-side comparisons between the two films border on being identical, as Dafoe is able to replicate Schreck’s original performance to a disturbing degree. Dafoe was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

If Dafoe isn’t cast as one of the most legendary vampires in film history, we can at least expect him to fully sink into the time period that Nosferatu will take place. The film is set in 1830s Germany, only a few decades removed from the setting utilized in The Lighthouse. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see him familiarize himself with a similar time period in order to give a more authentic performance.

Dafoe Has Plenty of Horror Experience

     Nordisk Film Distribution  

It’s important to acknowledge that Dafoe also has plenty of horror experience outside the films already discussed. When remaking a classic film, one that directly inspired dozens if not hundreds of future works since its initial release, it’s important to have at least a passing familiarity with not just the film itself, but the context surrounding it. Dafoe likely already has a terrific understanding of what made Nosferatu so compelling to begin with due to his performance in Shadow of a Vampire. To complement this, Dafoe also has plenty of horror roles in his filmography as well.

Lars van Trier’s Antichrist is a film that immediately comes to mind when discussing Dafoe’s horror performances. It’s a film that thrives on extremes, and while some audiences may not respond positively to its overt sexuality and violence, Dafoe viewed it as a positive experience. He also recently starred in Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley and Netflix’s live-action Death Note film. While the latter was critically thrashed, Dafoe’s performance as the Shinigami Ryuk was positively highlighted.