Nosferatustar Nicholas Hoult has revealed one of his most frightening encounters during the horror remake’s production. Based on the 1922 silent filmwhich was itself an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Hoult joined the Nosferatu remake’s cast as Thomas Hutter. Serving as the analog to Stoker’s original character, Jonathan Harker, director Robert Eggers had initially offered the role to Bill Skarsgård before eventually casting him as the film’s primary antagonist, Count Orlok.
During a recent Late Night With Seth Myers appearance, Hoult was quizzed about how difficult it was to act terrified. Admitting that while it can be exhausting to simulate fear, he did reveal one moment when he experienced genuine terror. Explaining that while filming a scene involving his character being chased by wolves, he slipped and nearly did not escape through the window, though Eggers was ultimately unable to use the cut due to the silly face Hoult was pulling in response. Check out his comments and the video below:
There was one time where it was true fear. Where we have these wolves in the movie that were chasing me out of a window as I’m trying to escape from Count Orlok’s castle. And I’m like, running on the spot and getting hyped up before the take, and they’re being held back from me on leashes, barking, with death in their eyes. They want to eat.
And I was like, “Whew, okay, this is intense.” And then there’s a time where I run, and I slip, and I nearly didn’t make it out of the window as they’re chasing me, as they’re let loose. And I got out, but then Rob [Eggers] was like, “Cut, cut, cut. No, you pulled a silly face. We can’t use that.”
He was like, “Come watch, look what your face did.” And my face does go like, “Weeeh.” And I was like, “Yeah, that’s not great, but so you know, that’s real fear.” Because I realize, I didn’t ask what happened if the wolves, if the dogs got to me.
What Nicholas Hoult’s Terrifying Experience Means For The Nosferatu Remake
Hollywood Has Sorely Missed Vampire Movies With True Dread
Despite Hoult’s near miss never making it into Eggers’ final cut, Nosferatu still appears to be filling far more than his stars with dread. Lauded by critics and currently boasting an 86% Fresh rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the critical response to this latest take on the classic vampire myth is a vast improvement compared to Hoult’s previous outing in a Dracula-inspired tale, 2023’s Renfield.
Hailed by critics as a much-needed return to the horror aspects that underpin vampire mythology, Nosferatu’s Count Orlok is a very different type of bloodsucker compared to some of his more modern compatriots.
Swapping out camp humor for genuine terror, Eggers' movie not only serves as a major counterpoint to Hoult’s participation in vampire movies, but for the genre as a whole. Hailed by critics as a much-needed return to the horror aspects that underpin vampire mythology, Nosferatu’s Count Orlok is a very different type of bloodsucker compared to some of his more modern compatriots. Trading in a more sympathetic and heavily romanticized approach taken by so many other movies, the key to Nosferatu's success is exactly the kind of fear Hoult experienced personally on set.
Our Take On Hoult’s Nosferatu Near Miss
He Was Likely Never In Any Real Danger
While Hoult remains unclear what would have happened had the dogs reached him before his escape, the animals would likely have been brought quickly under control by their on-set handlers. While they may resemble wild wolves in the final product, the kinds of animals used for productions of this nature are typically well-trained and carefully monitored for the safety of both cast and crew.
Even then, it is not hard to imagine the kind of genuine fear that Hoult’s experience would inspire. While that particular take never made Nosferatu’s final cut, hopefully, audiences may still get a chance to see Hoult's reaction as potential bonus content in the movie’s future physical media release.
Nosferatu is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name from director F. W. Murnau. Robert Eggers is crafting his own version of the story for the reboot as writer and director, with Bill Skarsgård stepping into the shoes of Count Orlok. Nosferatu tells the tale of a young woman who falls victim to a vampire utterly infatuated with her.
Release Date
December 25, 2024
Runtime
132 Minutes
Character(s)
Count Orlok
, Ellen Hutter
, Thomas Hutter
, Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz
, Friedrich Harding
, Anna Harding
, Knock
, Dr. Wilhelm Sievers
, Dockhand
, Head Nurse
Studio(s)
Regency Enterprises
, 1492 Pictures
Distributor(s)
Focus Features
, Universal Pictures
Custom image by TC Phillips
English (US) ·