MovieChat Forums > Nosferatu a Venezia (1988) Discussion > What a mess...

What a mess...

posted 8 months ago by thingmakersback (1439)
5 replies | jump to latest

But watchable, even beautiful at times. Kinski is Kinski, looking angry or miserable or miserably angry... and mauling the actresses. Venice is Venice and attractively shot. And there are a couple of decent scenes.

The story is, however, almost totally incoherent and it is not helped by editing that occasionally makes it hard to tell what is supposed to be happening. And If Christopher Plummer as a serious but incompetent vampire hunter isn't totally wasted, Donald Pleasence certainly is as a cowardly, hypocritical priest.

[–] Filmtenk2 (4127) 8 months ago

Definitely not my first go-to of the Herzog/Kinski collaborations. If you weren't aware there is a dvd collection which consist of these 6 films:
-Aguirre, The Wrath of God
-Woyzeck
-Cobra Verde
-Nosferatu
-Fitzcarraldo
-My Best Fiend

In my opinion 'Cobra Verde' is the best of the bunch followed by 'Fitzcarraldo.' Everyone should see "Aguirre, The Wrath of God' at least once but it's pretty low budget.

[–] thingmakersback (1439) 8 months ago

I've seen most of the Herzog/Kinski films, but my heart belongs to horror and SF films.

This is one of those oddball films where Kinski couldn't have improved the film even if it was competent in other respects... And I would still rather watch it than Nosferatu.

[–] Filmtenk2 (4127) 8 months ago

Are you familiar with Robbert Eggers? The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman? He's got his Nosferatu film coming later this year and I can't wait for that.

[–] thingmakersback (1439) 8 months ago

Well, I am rather fond of The Lighthouse and The Witch. I don't know if I'll be that thrilled with another Nosferatu though. I'm kinda annoyed over the MORE THAN A CENTURY of movies, that nobody has done what I would consider a definitive Dracula. Nosferatu, I always think of as an excuse to once more fail to reasonably adapt a classic that's been abused by mediocre or awful or simply wrong-headed adaptations

[–] Filmtenk2 (4127) 8 months ago

That's a good point. I'd prefer Eggers do an original story like everything he's done so far. It reminds me of Peter Jackson doing King Kong, kind of a vanity project. Who knows if it will succeed but if anyone can pull it off it's Eggers.

What's the last enjoyable horror & SF films you've seen?