The Transformed Count: Bill Skarsgård’s Nosferatu Leaves Co-Stars Chillingly Scared
The buzz surrounding Robert Eggers’s upcoming "Nosferatu" is reaching fever pitch. Horror fans are eagerly anticipating the director’s reimagining of the classic vampire tale, fueled by chilling trailers and creative marketing stunts (including a popcorn coffin!). But perhaps the most tantalizing element is the reveal of the titular vampire himself. Eggers is keeping Count Orlok’s true appearance under wraps until the film’s release.
This strategy proved successful earlier this year with "Longlegs," where Nicolas Cage’s unsettling portrayal of the villain was a shocking surprise. Given Eggers’s track record of creating disturbingly realistic worlds (think "The Witch," "The Northman," and "The Lighthouse") and Skarsgård’s own experience embodying Pennywise in "It," anticipation for this vampire is sky-high.
But the hush surrounding Skarsgård’s transformation isn’t just for the viewers.
According to an interview on Deadline, Skarsgård’s co-stars were genuinely unsettled by his chilling apparition on set. Lily-Rose Depp, who stars alongside Skarsgård, recalled her first encounter.
“I remember thinking, ‘This is genuinely scary as hell, to be just next to him in a room, so I can’t imagine how it’s going to read on screen.’ He was genuinely petrifying-looking… it’s not just like looking at a monster; it’s like there’s something very human about him, which I think makes it all the more terrifying,” Depp said.
Nicholas Hoult, who plays Tom in the film and meets the vampiric Orlok onscreen, shared a similar reaction. Their initial encounter happened from afar, with Skarsgård as a shadowy figure looming in the distance.
"For that first interaction, we’re so far apart, he’s just a silhouette. And through that first scene that we do, when we walk into the castle, you don’t really see him. It’s kind of that thing where you’re like, ‘Oh, I know I feel uneasy,’ but [my character] Tom is too polite. He’s not the person that’s going to be like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up,’" Hoult explained.
“It’s all kind of a weird fever dream, what’s happening, but it’s like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to continue this. This is what I need to do.’”
The Deadline feature delves deeper into the creation of Skarsgård’s unsettling transformation, exploring everything from his hair-raising voice to the incredible detail in his makeup and costume design. For those who aren’t squeamish (or those curious about Eggers’s dedication to realism), the article also reveals the surprising role that 5,000 rats played in the filmmaking process.
"Nosferatu" opens in theaters December 25th.
[Include all multimedia elements as they appear in the original article.]
