Book Review: The Nosferatu Story

Nosferatu (1922) is one of the most significant films in the history of horror cinema. A quintessential example of German Expressionism, Nosferatu is the basis for virtually any horror film that came after it. In Rolf Giesen's new book from McFarland publishers, the film's entire history is told.

This book does more than merely assess the film's aesthetic quality. It provides a substantial context for its place in horror cinema, examining its influences and origins as well as the background in the making of the film, and the enormous influence that is still being felt today.

The discussion throughout the book is scholarly without toppling into the dullness of bland academic prose. Each chapter is compelling and enlightening, offering a fascinating study of German Expressionism's creation and development, and how this method led to Nosferatu as a foundational monster/vampire film. There is interesting information on filmmaker F.W. Murnau and actor Max Schreck that appears in no other book.

The author digs deeply into the history of the moving image, its development from novelty to art, all of which happened comparatively rapidly. The origin of the horror movie concept is another area where the author looks at history, including the brutality of war, that helped to influence the idea of a central figure that is hideous, and strikes terror.

As a film, Nosferatu is a towering classic that has long been a staple in motion picture development, while to the horror genre it is an early benchmark. A film this important deserves a study as deep and fulfilling as author Giesen's book. A must for libraries, research centers, and fans of film history and horror movies, The Nosferatu Story is available at this link: NOSFERATU