Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu: 8 Movies That Sparked His Inspiration

1-9

Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - January 20th 2025, 18:00 GMT+1

Cropped Nosferatu — About this gallery:

To create this list, we focused on the 8 films Robert Eggers handpicked for a screening about folklore, gothic tales, and fairy stories – movies that inspired his latest masterpiece, *Nosferatu* (and, let’s be real, probably his entire filmography).

Have you seen any of these? If so, drop us a comment with your favorite from the list! We’d love to know if your taste in eerie cinema matches Eggers’s hauntingly brilliant vision.

| © Focus Features

Cropped Svengali — Svengali (1931)

Directed by Archie Mayo, *Svengali* is a darkly seductive tale of manipulation and obsession, featuring the magnetic John Barrymore as the titular hypnotist. This movie practically invented the “creepy guy controls innocent girl” trope, but it’s done with such flair you can’t look away. Eggers probably watched this and thought, “How do I make something even creepier?” The shadowy cinematography and eerie performances are pure gothic gold, setting a tone that’s right at home in the world of *Nosferatu*. Let’s be honest, Svengali and Nosferatu could totally hang out in a dank castle and trade grooming tips. | © Warner Bros.

Cropped Beauty and the Beas T — Beauty and the Beast (1946)

Jean Cocteau’s *Beauty and the Beast* is a fairy tale wrapped in poetry and sprinkled with gothic romance. The Beast’s castle is straight out of a fever dream, with candelabras that seem to sigh and hallways that feel alive. Eggers must have been smitten by Cocteau’s ability to make every frame feel like a moving painting. The way this film balances the grotesque and the enchanting is something Eggers likely aimed to channel in his own work. Also, let’s face it, Nosferatu has about as much luck in love as the Beast – minus the happily ever after. | © DisCina

Cropped Great Expectations — Great Expectations (1946)

David Lean’s *Great Expectations* isn’t just a literary adaptation; it’s a haunting exploration of memory, guilt, and class. Those opening shots of the marshes? Chilling. Miss Havisham’s decaying mansion? Nightmare fuel. Eggers probably saw this as a masterclass in atmosphere, with its ability to make the ordinary feel uncanny. The film’s gothic overtones and character-driven tension align perfectly with the brooding, isolated world Eggers loves to build. Also, if Nosferatu ever needed a wingman, he’d call up Pip – another guy with a knack for awkward romantic entanglements. | © Rank Organisation

Cropped The Queen of Spades — The Queen of Spades (1949)

Thorold Dickinson’s *The Queen of Spades* is a gem of supernatural suspense, dripping with doom and despair. It tells the story of a gambler who makes a Faustian deal, proving that you don’t need vampires to make a story deliciously dark. Eggers surely appreciates the film’s shadowy cinematography and its knack for creating tension so thick you could cut it with a dagger (or a vampire’s claw). The eerie performances and occult undertones make this one of the spookiest entries on the list. Nosferatu would probably call this “light reading” for a rainy night in his crypt. | © Associated British Picture Corporation

Cropped Andriesh — Andriesh (1954)

Directed by Yakov Bazelyan and Sergei Parajanov, *Andriesh* is a whimsical yet surreal fairy tale about a young shepherd battling dark forces with the help of magic. This Soviet-era gem brims with lush visuals and an almost dreamlike quality, where every frame feels as if it’s pulled from a mythical tapestry. Eggers must have been captivated by the film’s blend of folk traditions and surrealism – his bread and butter! Andriesh’s journey from innocence to heroism feels like a lighthearted precursor to the foreboding tales Eggers loves to craft. Just imagine Nosferatu wandering into Andriesh’s world – he’d be the ultimate party crasher. | © Dovzhenko Film Studios

Cropped The Innocents — The Innocents (1961)

Jack Clayton’s *The Innocents* is psychological horror at its finest, a masterclass in ambiguity and creeping dread. With Deborah Kerr’s spellbinding performance as a governess descending into paranoia (or is she?), this ghost story keeps you guessing at every turn. Eggers must have been enamored with its use of atmosphere – creaking floorboards, flickering candles, and a general sense that something is very, very wrong. The film’s ethereal cinematography and unsettling tone are like a blueprint for Eggers’s gothic ambitions. If Nosferatu were to pop by, you just know those kids would be creepily singing him lullabies. | © 20th Century Fox

Cropped The Eve of Ivan Kupalo — The Eve of Ivan Kupalo (1968)

Yuri Ilyenko’s *The Eve of Ivan Kupalo* is a fever dream of folklore and surrealism, a kaleidoscopic vision of Eastern European myths and rituals. With its swirling visuals and haunting, otherworldly imagery, this film feels like stepping into another dimension. Eggers surely relished its unapologetic embrace of cultural mysticism and its ability to weave the supernatural into the fabric of everyday life. The film’s exploration of humanity’s connection to nature and the spiritual world is something Eggers channels in his work. You can almost imagine Nosferatu lurking in the shadows of Ilyenko’s mystical landscapes, feeling right at home. | © Dovzhenko Film Studios

Cropped Leptirica — The She-Butterfly / Leptirica (1973)

Đorđe Kadijević’s *Leptirica* is a Serbian horror film with a folkloric twist, telling the chilling tale of a vampire terrorizing a village. This atmospheric gem captures the eerie beauty of rural life and adds a heaping dose of dread. The scratchy soundtrack, haunting visuals, and mythic storytelling make it a must-watch for anyone into gothic horror. Eggers probably took notes on how *Leptirica* blends the supernatural with the mundane – something he excels at. And let’s be real, Nosferatu would totally approve of this low-key vampire flick – it’s practically his Balkan cousin’s origin story. | © Radio Television Belgrade

1-9

Robert Eggers, the visionary director behind The Witch and The Lighthouse, has a knack for reimagining the past with a distinctively eerie and meticulous touch. Now, with his highly anticipated remake of Nosferatu, he’s delving into one of cinema’s most iconic tales of horror. But Eggers doesn’t create in isolation – his films are steeped in inspiration drawn from the works of other filmmakers who have pushed the boundaries of storytelling, atmosphere, and mood.

In this article, we’ll explore the 8 movies that helped spark Eggers’s vision for Nosferatu. These films aren’t just influential – they’re a roadmap to the shadowy corners of his imagination. From silent-era classics to chilling psychological dramas, these works reflect the depth and range of Eggers’s cinematic palate. So, dim the lights, embrace the eerie, and discover the movies that helped shape this dark, gothic masterpiece.