Shadow of the Vampire

What if Max Schreck, the actor who played Nosferatu in F.W. Murnau’s classic vampire film of the same name, were actually a vampire? Director E. Elias Merhise goes nuts with this idea, and he’s created one warped movie. Willem Dafoe is unreal as Schreck, the hideous actor who stalks crewmembers for blood in this fictitious take on what happened during this film shoot. John Malkovich is great fun as F.W. Murnau, a director willing to sacrifice his lead actress to a vampire in order to get his film made. The movie is technically excellent and well performed, and perhaps not absolutely enjoyable. It’s also one of the weirdest times you will ever spend at the movies. I enjoyed it, but it’s not for everyone.