Shadow of the Vampire

R

Released Jan 26, 2001

1 hr. 33 min.

Drama

List

82%

141 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

F. W. Murnau (John Malkovich) is struggling to create his silent classic "Nosferatu" on location in Eastern Europe. The director is obsessed with making this the most authentic vampire movie ever. To that end, Murnau has employed a real vampire, Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe), explaining to the crew that he is the ultimate of that new breed, the "method actor" -- trained by Stanislavsky himself. Schreck will appear only in character and only at night.

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Critics Consensus

Shadow of the Vampire is frightening, compelling, and funny, and features an excellent performance by Willem Dafoe.

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Alex L

Great performance by Malkovitch and Dafoe

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Lars N

With a killer premise and poor execution this is the sort of movie they should remake. This movie has the potential to be so. much. better.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

For any fan of Nosferatu, Shadow of the Vampire makes for an inspired diversion in an improbable blend of behind-the-scenes satire and art-house fright-fest. A gory and grandiose metaphor for the torments and sacrifices made, extracted and endured in the name of art. Borrowing the techniques of silent films, including the use of intertitles to explain elided action and iris lenses, E. Elias Merhige's direction is sublime in its respect for the era, managing to make the film equal parts frightening and surprisingly funny. Avoiding the pitfall of irony, Willem Dafoe, in a performance that's both skin-crawling and sympathetic, encapsulates the role of Nosferatu so perfectly that when real scenes from the silent classic are slipped into the frame, you don't notice a difference. A shame he hasn't landed the role in Robert Eggers' upcoming remake of the silent original, but I look forward to Bill Skarsgård's take all the same. Shining brightly as a labour of love, Shadow of the Vampire is a carefully crafted and wholly absorbing curiosity led by its outstanding performances that is more than worthy of your time, be you a fan of the original or not.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

Stephen C

Fun little masterpiece of a movie. Underrated, I almost never hear it mentioned, and I love horror and I love these actors. I didn't know going on who would be the vampire or director, I just knew the premise and the two lead actors. They all did incredible, all the supporting actors too. What a movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

Elew G

Great Cast. Great premise.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/23

Full Review

Musuko S

A pretty good film....DAFOE is AMAZING....and scary the films big drawback is malcovich with his usual non acting job and mouth open idiotic thing

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/07/23

Full Review

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E. Elias Merhige

Director

John Malkovich

F.W. Murnau

Willem Dafoe

Max Schreck

Cary Elwes

Fritz Wagner

Aden Gillett

Galeen

Suzy Eddie Izzard

Gustav von Wangenheim

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

"Shadow of the Vampire" is a gory and grandiose metaphor for the torments and sacrifices made, extracted, and endured in the name of art.

Oct 19, 2019

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Vampire satire has some creepy moments.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

David Edelstein

Slate

The screenplay, by Steven Katz, suffers from arch, almost unspeakably theatrical dialogue, and, as Murnau, John Malkovich recites his lines as if monomania were synonymous with monotonic: He drains the drama of blood.

Sep 25, 2007

Full Review

Chuck Klosterman

Akron Beacon Journal

Does this mean Shadow of the Vampire is good? Sort of. Does it means it's bad? Sometimes. But it's usually entertaining.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 28, 2023

Full Review

Chris Phillips

Out Magazine

Catherine McCormack is an over-the-top delight as the neurotic object of Schreck's affection, and Dafoe, in a performance that's both skin-crawling and sympathetic, more than lives up to the prerelease hype.

May 27, 2022

Full Review

Jan Stuart

The Advocate

It’s a puerile premise, made even sillier by highfalutin dialogue and somnolent pacing that makes us wonder at times if they are pulling our leg or embalming a classic silent picture in the process of trying to emulate it.

Apr 5, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

F. W. Murnau (John Malkovich) is struggling to create his silent classic "Nosferatu" on location in Eastern Europe. The director is obsessed with making this the most authentic vampire movie ever. To that end, Murnau has employed a real vampire, Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe), explaining to the crew that he is the ultimate of that new breed, the "method actor" -- trained by Stanislavsky himself. Schreck will appear only in character and only at night.

Director: E. Elias Merhige
Executive Producer: Paul Brooks
Screenwriter: Steven Katz
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Saturn Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 26, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.3M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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