Essay Questions

What are some key differences between this movie and other movies made in the late 1970s?

This movie was meant to mimic the silent film Dracula by director Murnau, a stylistic remake of the original. Thus, we see a big emphasis on visible spectacle and less on the ideas of the plot. In fact, the dialogue was very spotty and there was very little use of it throughout the movie. In addition to this, this movie wanted to pay its respects to Murnau's movie, in fact, a number of shots in the film are frame by frame copies of shots from Murnau's original film, some perfectly identical to their counterparts, intended as an homage to Murnau.

Compare and contrast the traditional vampire to Herzog's Nosferatu.

The idea of loneliness and the willingness to pass away are echoed more closely in Herzog's film than others. The whole reason the plague and the Count move down to Wismar is to leave behind the lonely confines of the castle and find love which he is so deprived. Most other vampire depictions in this area detail a spiteful and vengeful murderer who only seeks do dominate the world and feast on the world's populous.

Were there any personal elements of Herzog that changed the storytelling process?

During Herzog's childhood, the family house was destroyed in a bombing raid. He detailed in an interview "I could give 10 years of my life to learn the cello." While many critics claim that many scenes during the 4-week trip to Wismar were long and drawn out, other critics say that Herzog valued every ounce of beauty from a scene and was willing to let it show. Another interesting fact is that the movie begins in Mexico, with a series of skulls. Herzog actually had visited Mexico before as he had fled the United States for VISA violations.