Is That Willem Dafoe? (Shadow Of The Vampire review)

Shadow Of The Vampire

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Shadow Of The Vampire is perhaps one of the strangest movies I have ever seen. Don’t get me wrong it’s not like entirely sexual or disturbing in a bloody way, it’s just flat out strange. I think it’s the most original movie based on something that happened in real life (sort of). I can’t quite make out what this film really is, but it’s almost safe to say that it is a realistic take on a director’s journey to make the most realistic vampire movie of all time. In doing this the director hires a method actor that to an extreme does the role by living the role. He only appears to everyone in full character, and we too only get to see him in full character. Everything becomes weird when crew members start to dissappear, and the actor playing the vampire (Max Schreck played by Dafoe) causes many problems for both the director and the producer. All in all the film covers a timeline from the beginning of shooting the film Nosferatu, to it’s end.

I had heard before of Nosferatu, but was not aware that there was a film based on the story of the making of Nosferatu. John Malkovich is our lead character playing the obsessive director Friedrich Wilhelm Marnau. John Malkovich is so good at playing obsessive people that come off as rude and selfish. I loved his character, and that character’s will to finish the movie at all costs.

Perhaps an even better character in this movie is that of Max Schreck played by Willem Dafoe. If anything just watch this movie for him. Dafoe is brilliant in this film. He completely looses himself in the role and does it in a very fun theatrical way. I couldn’t have recognized him if I hadn‘t read the titles, so that goes without saying that the make up in this film is also top tier. I had so much fun watching how strange Max Schreck was, and at times was so lost as to whether this guy was for real acting like a vampire (to an extreme) all the time. I loved his strangeness, yet charming creepy persona. This performance is so good I might just call it the best supporting performance I have ever seen in films so far.

Mark my words, Shadow of The Vampire doesn’t have any of that Hollywood story line or action. It is more like a documentary, but it’s such an enjoyable movie. It is filled with humor, and the best part of the whole film is that it would appeal to many even with its R-Rating. Perhaps the best group to appeal to would be anyone who has been in theater and enjoyed it, for this is a very theatrical film in the way the performances are carried through and the make up along with costumes are applied. If you are not a fan of Willem Dafoe watch Shadow Of The Vampire and you will instantly fall for this magnificent actor.