‘Nosferatu’ Receives R Rating Ahead Of Christmas Release

The Motion Picture Association of America have officially given an R rating to Robert Egger’s Nosferatu, promising lots of intense and scary moments.

Get yourself in the festive mood as the release of Nosferatu comes closer. Robert Egger’s reimagining of the 1922 silent horror masterpiece arrives in cinemas on December 25th. The movie appears to be combining Eggers’ atmospheric filmmaking style with the eerie gothic tones of the original. The film stars Bill Skarsgård as the sinister Count Orlok, whose obsessive pursuit of Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen forms the dark heart of the story, set in 19th-century Germany. With Eggers’ reputation for period accuracy, the movie integrates fresh elements of folklore while paying homage to the visual and thematic essence of both F.W. Murnau’s and Werner Herzog’s earlier adaptations. Featuring a stellar supporting cast that includes Willem Dafoe, Nicholas Hoult, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the film’s haunting visuals are further elevated by its use of historic European locations, such as Prague, to enhance its gothic authenticity. Fans eagerly await Eggers’ unique vision, promising a revitalised take on the legendary vampire tale that remains faithful to its eerie roots while introducing new layers of horror. Eggers himself, alongside the cast, has claimed that this movie is scary like we haven’t seen in horror movies recently. 

As further evidence for this, the MPAA has recently announced the rating for Egger’s Nosferatu and it’s an R rating. It has received this rating for ‘bloody violent content, graphic nudity and some sexual content’. Considering the story centres around a romantic relationship and as we have already seen what appears to be very intimate and sexual moments in the trailer, it’s unsurprising that this comes with such a high rating. However, in the UK, the BBFC has rated the movie only a 15. This time, for strong horror, injury detail, violence and sex. Whilst they don’t go into detail on the type of violence and injury, it being alongside the MPAA rating shows that we are in for a very violent and bloody movie. However, the fact that it is only a 15 in the UK means that it won’t be as gory as some may have hoped, as this is similar to the rating given to the Venom movies, whereas, for example, a recent movie like Abigail, which was very very bloody, received an 18.

Since the start of the year and even before, Nosferatu has been one of 2024’s most anticipated horror films. Egger’s catalogue of movies from The Lighthouse to The Northman has been very well received and embraced by a huge growing fanbase, which is why the excitement for the movie is there and is still growing. Known for his mastery of atmospheric storytelling, Eggers blends gothic horror with historical authenticity, bringing Count Orlok to life practically, forcing Bill Skarsgård to sit in the makeup chair for hours. Audiences across the world expect Eggers’ signature style to elevate the haunting visuals and dread of the original while delivering a bold reimagining. If successful, Nosferatu could redefine vampire horror and solidify itself as the standout horror film of the year.

The movie is the most watchlisted film on Letterboxd this year, beating out the big hitters of the year like Wicked and Deadpool & Wolverine which puts the hype for this movie into perspective – a lot of people are eagerly waiting for this.

Nosferatu is directed by Robert Eggers and stars Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Willem Dafoe. The film is produced by Focus Features, distributed by Universal Pictures and will be released in theatres on December 25, 2024.

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