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Look Whose Coming to Dinner-Exploring 10 Nosferatu Inspired Films

For horror aficionados, the name “Nosferatu” conjures images of a gaunt figure creeping up a staircase, perhaps his shadow stretching impossibly long as he ogles a waifish woman in a bed. F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent classic remains one of the most iconic and influential horror films. It has become a favorite of a number of horror film festivals. The revival might be complete with the release of Robert Eggers Nosferatu. Egger’s new version is hardly the first. Over the years, filmmakers have drawn inspiration from the original’s eerie visuals, haunting atmosphere, and the titular vampire’s menacing mystique. Lets listen carefully to their heartbeats as we sink our teeth into ten films that embody the Nosferatu legacy. Here are 10 Nosferatu-Inspired Films presented as holiday guests coming for dinner.

1. Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Werner Herzog’s reimagining of the original Nosferatu is both a love letter and a bold artistic statement. It is also Herzog being Herzog. Klaus Kinski’s Count Dracula is grotesque yet tragic, embodying the existential dread Herzog loves to explore. He isn’t a grizzly bear but he is a dangerous animal and Herzog manages to extend his trademark empathy to the vampire in this film as well. The film’s dreamlike visuals and unnerving score pay homage to Murnau’s silent masterpiece while carving out a distinctly Herzogian identity. Think of it as Nosferatu for the art-house crowd (that crowd is already into the original I know)—moody, existential, and just a little pretentious (in the best way).

2. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

What if Max Schreck, the actor who played Count Orlok in the original Nosferatu, wasn’t just acting? That’s the brilliant premise of this metafictional gem. Willem Dafoe’s performance as Schreck—a real vampire—is both hilarious and chilling. It feels like the starting point for a whole new generation of horror films that are willing to allow their monsters to be comical. One of which lots of future directors have take full advantage of. Pair that with John Malkovich’s manic take on Murnau, and you’ve got a film that’s equal parts homage and pitch-black comedy. It’s Nosferatu’s weird cousin who shows up to family reunions and tells the best stories, but probably has seen some shit.

3. Salem’s Lot (1979)

Stephen King’s vampire opus borrows heavily from Nosferatu, particularly in the visual design of its main bloodsucker, Kurt Barlow. In a time where our vampires were getting more attractive King and Hooper weren’t afraid to be ugly. With his bald head, rat-like teeth, and piercing eyes, Barlow is clearly Count Orlok’s spiritual descendant. Directed by Tobe Hooper, the film’s small-town setting and creeping dread make it a modern American counterpart to Nosferatu’s Old World gothic vibes. Keeping with the theme, Salem’s Lot is your uncle from the Northeast. He has an accent, but once he opens his mouth same scary shit your local uncles say just without the ‘r’s’

4. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Those lessons about a funny vampire come back in spades as The Real World meets Interview With a Vampire. This vampire mockumentary might seem like an odd addition to the list, but hear me out. Jemaine Clement’s character Vladislav is a clear nod to Nosferatu’s visual style and mannerisms. He is Dracula like character. The best gags of the film are reserved for the oldest vampire in the flat. There’s a Nosferatu-like vampire named Petyr living in the basement, who steals every scene he’s in. The humor of the film means That What We Do in the Shadows is that cousin that takes you out for a fun and smoke filled cousin walk before dinner.

5. Nosferatu in Venice (1988)

Also known as Vampire in Venice, this strange sequel of sorts stars Klaus Kinski as a Nosferatu-like vampire prowling the canals of Venice. It is Kinski’s move to directing blood suckers not just being one. It’s a messy, chaotic film—Kinski reportedly directed some scenes himself—but its atmospheric visuals and grand weirdness make it worth a watch. It has an operatic quality that makes the film almost feel lyrical. Think of it as Nosferatu on vacation: still creepy, but now with gondolas. Or better, he is your older brother who spent a semester abroad and came back with an Italian accent. “We say Parmesan Cheese in America, Jack.”

6. Dracula (1931)

While Bela Lugosi’s suave Count Dracula is worlds apart from Nosferatu’s grotesque Count Orlok, the film owes a debt to Murnau’s visual storytelling. Both films share an emphasis on atmosphere and shadowy cinematography. In many ways, Tod Browning’s Dracula is Nosferatu’s polished Hollywood cousin—the one with a bigger budget and a tuxedo. It is classic, but a classic ripoff. Its the boomer of the family complaining about how hard things use to be without acknowledging they had a huge head start already.

7. Let the Right One In (2008)

This haunting Swedish vampire tale doesn’t directly reference Nosferatu, but its icy atmosphere and understated menace feel like a spiritual successor. Like Nosferatu, it’s a film about loneliness and otherness, with its vampire protagonist more sympathetic than terrifying. Plus, the snowy landscapes and institutional feel make a perfect setting for a modern Nosferatu to lurk. Director Thomas Alfredson manages to return the vampire’s humanity while resetting it as the central empathetic character. The act is no small feat and it is mostly accomplished by making both the hero and the vampire as adolescents. Let the Right One in are the kids at Christmas dinner who don’t seem to belong to anyone and do what the hell they want no matter what.

8. 30 Days of Night (2007)

It is Nosferatu in a snow suit, or as others know it, 30 Days of Night. Set in an isolated Alaskan town plunged into darkness for a month, the film’s vampires are feral, primal, and utterly terrifying. Based off of a graphic novel by the same name, there is not a clear Orlok stand in but all of the vampires seem to be the frozen off shoots of the original. Their animalistic nature and grotesque appearance owe much to Nosferatu’s depiction of vampires as predators rather than romantic figures. These guys are the strays that your mom picked up at work. She invited them, its awkward, but here you are. Just survive the night.

9. Thirst (2009)

Park Chan-wook’s stylish, subversive vampire film reimagines Nosferatu’s themes for the 21st century. Its protagonist, a priest turned vampire, grapples with moral dilemmas and existential despair. The film is heavy on the existential dread which seems buried within the original as well. While the film is visually lush and sensual—a far cry from Nosferatu’s stark aesthetic—its exploration of vampirism as a curse echoes Orlok’s tragic existence. You don’t have to squint to get to the sexiness that has come to define to modern vampire classics and The Thirst seems like an important bridge. This is your teenage sister who is completely immersed in their own ennui.

10. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)

This recent film expands on a single chapter from Bram Stoker’s Dracula to create a maritime horror story. While it’s more explicitly tied to Stoker’s novel, its depiction of Dracula as a monstrous, Nosferatu-like creature clearly pays homage to Murnau’s creation. The claustrophobic setting of the doomed ship Demeter feels like a natural evolution of Nosferatu’s shadowy dread. André Øvredal remains a site favorite for his creative and atmospheric remiaginings of classic monsters. Nosferatu at sea is just his latest. This is your family member who spent some time in the navy. They still own the peacoat. “Wanna see it?”

So the next time you see a shadow creeping up a wall or spot a pale figure lurking in the dark, remember: Nosferatu’s not just a movie—it’s an eternal reminder that horror, like a vampire, never truly dies.