Nosferatu

FW Murnau's famous and genre defining vampire tale.
This film is very beautiful, and has some interesting thematic elements. Undoubtedly it has dated in so far as the narrative structure and the acting, but it retains a charm of its own, and seen at night in a deserted cinema still would have the possibility to terrifying. A very interesting part of this movie is the use of shadows and colour. Murnau uses a palate that includes blinding, harsh lights that often backlight, partly giving the impressions that the actor's hair is on fire. This gives a kind of eerie phosphoresence. This is specially noticeable in his use of negative for the forests; it is more than striking, it is shocking and still immensely disconserting to this day to see the blazing whites of the uncaring, untouchable forest.
The lack of expressionist sets (which too much has perhaps been made of this as placing the action in reality, that effect is rather through Schreck's central performance) is made up for by the use of framing devices of coffin-like arches. We love German, Caligari-esque expressionist mis-en-scene, but this dissapointment is made up for by the mis-en-shot, with its looming shadows.
Schreck's performance is nicely understated and almost earthy, avoiding pantomime camp and instead giving us a creature that, if anything, looks rather fearful. The plotting is rather dodgily paced (especially the last half hour) and there's not a great sense of momentum or direction, but perhaps the other strengths should let this be forgiven.
Murnau was famous for his use of space, for cameras now able to move about. This isn't really noticeable on first viewing, now that everyone presumably uses a bit of depth, but at least we can appreciate that the man could frame a wonderful scene, usually using either a full shot or occasionally a mid.
This is an important film and, though not always a complete joy to watch, still one that contains an eerie atmosphere and rigid beauty.