The Best Horror Movie Of 2024 Was ‘Nosferatu’

There were some amazing surprises in horror cinema during 2024 and the year ended with the best entry yet: the Christmas day release of Nosferatu.

Based on the original 1922 Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror by director F.W. Murnau, which was in turn based on the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is more than a mere remake or adaptation. Nosferatu is a gorgeously realized work of art. The film’s rich Gothic aesthetic makes it feel like an instant classic for the horror genre.

Eggers’ penchant for meticulous detail within the realm of historically-based horror is on full display in this film. At times it’s like a storybook come to life, while at the same time it’s a nightmare made real. The world is inhabited by characters who may be familiar to most viewers, but who are made compelling through the work of a phenomenal cast.

Leading the way is Lily-Rose Depp with an absolutely chilling performance as Ellen Hutter, a woman whose mind and will are tested by forces both supernatural and man-made. Robert Eggers is quoted as saying that he knew Lily-Rose was right for the role of Ellen Hutter when she “immediately brought up Possession (1981).”

Nosferatu is expected to be released on streaming on January 21, but for now it is playing only in theaters.