Nosferatudirector Robert Eggers revealed why Count Orlok has a mustache in the movie. The story ofNosferatuis set in the 1830s and follows a young woman who falls victim to a vampire who becomes obsessed with her. The movie is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name, which was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novelDracula. Bill Skarsgård plays the menacing vampire Count Orlok in the movie. In addition to Skarsgård, thecast ofNosferatuincludes Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Emma Corrin.
In an interview withVariety, Eggers explains why it was important for Count Orlok to have a mustache in the movie. Multiple actors have played Count Orlok in the past, but Skarsgård’s version looks significantly different thanks to that feature.Eggers claims that all Transylvanian men had mustaches during that time period, so it wouldn’t have been accurate if Count Orlok didn’t share that look. Read Eggers' full comment below:
So to try to make a more scary vampire than we’ve had in quite some time, I went back to the folklore. It’s something that I like anyway, but the early folk vampire was written about by people who believed that vampires existed. There was going to be some good stuff there, and the vampire of folklore is a putrid, walking undead corpse. And so the question then became, “What does a dead Transylvanian nobleman look like?”
That means this complex Hungarian costume with very long sleeves, strange high-heeled shoes and a furry hat. It also means a mustache. No matter what, there’s no way this guy can’t have a mustache.Tryto find a Transylvanian person who’s of age who can grow a mustache that doesn’t have a mustache. It’s part of the culture. If you don’t want to bother Googling, think of Vlad the Impaler. Even Bram Stoker had the sense to give Dracula a mustache in the book.
Why It Is Important For Skarsgård’s Count Orlok To Have A Mustache
Having A Mustache Is One Reason Why Skarsgård’s Count Orlok Is Unique
Eggers' comments about Count Orlok’s appearance are interesting as they reveal that he didn’t just look to previous versions of the character for inspiration. While writing and directingNosferatu, Eggers was inspired by folklore. This explains why audiences see a slightly different version of Count Orlok in Eggers’Nosferatu. There has been a lot of anticipation leading up to therelease ofNosferatu, andadding a mustache to Count Orlok ensures that Eggers' version of the story is unique from others.
Skarsgård completely transforms into Count Orlok inNosferatu, and proves that he was the perfect actor for the role.
In addition to the mustache,the other aspects of Count Orlok’s character design make it so that Skarsgård is unrecognizable in the role. Skarsgård completely transforms into Count Orlok inNosferatu, and proves that he was the perfect actor for the role. Eggers and Skarsgård’s dedication to creating a unique version of Count Orlok paid off, asreviews forNosteratuhave been great.
Our Take On Count Orlok’s Mustache In Nosferatu
Skarsgård Excels As Count Orlok In Nosferatu
Based on his comments, it is clear that Eggers did a lot of research forNosferatu. This is clearly a passion project for the director, and he wanted to create the best version of Count Orlok. Adding a mustache is a great addition to an already incredible character design. Overall, Skarsgård should exceed expectations with his portrayal of Count Orlok inNosferatu.
Nosferatu
Cast
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
