Last week we finally went to see Robert Egger’s remake of Nosferatu. I had been looking forward to seeing it since the trailer was released last summer. Way back when I was a college student in Albuquerque, I watched the original 1922 version in a film class and it had stuck in my mind as one of the best vampire movies of all time. So, I was excited when I saw that it was being shown at the Mayan Theater accompanied live by Quarkestra a silent film orchestra from Denver for the hundredth anniversary of the movie. It had been nearly thirty years since that film class, so I had forgotten that F. W.  Murnau’s German Expressionist silent film was a low budget movie that today comes across to me at least, as more cheesy and melodramatic than eerie. I’m sure it was pretty scary for German audiences at the time, but I was disappointed that it didn’t live up to what I remembered. I was hopeful that the Egger’s version would still retain the gothic feel, but be a bit more believable and creepy. 

We waited to see it until after the holidays so that we could get the $6.25 Discount Tuesday tickets at the Belmar Cinemark Theater in Lakewood. We love going to see movies there because of this and because it has comfortable recliners and free parking in the lot behind Target. Just a note if you’re in Denver; The Alamo Drafthouse at Sloan’s Lake has $7 tickets on Tuesdays. Everyone on social media was talking up the new Nosferatu, so I was eagerly awaiting finally seeing it. I even dressed appropriately by wearing my gothic bat necklace and coffin ring. 

After 5 hours of previews (why so many?!), the movie finally started. If you’ve never seen any of the 3 versions of Nosferatu, here’s a brief synopsis: Set in the 1830s, the movie opens with a young girl, Ellen crying out for someone or something to comfort her. We later learn that she has suffered from depressive episodes since childhood. She unwittingly summons Nosferatu who forces her to pledge herself to him for eternity. Years later in the fictional town of Wisburg, Germany, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), is married to Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) a real estate agent. Thomas is sent by his employer to the remote Carpathian Mountains to meet with Count Orlok (Nosferatu) who wants to buy a house in Wisburg. After a long, drawn out journey, Thomas arrives at the castle and meets the menacing Count Orlok who forces the exhausted agent to complete the property sale. Afterwards, Thomas blacks out and falls ill and is unable to leave. Meanwhile Ellen is hearing voices and having mysterious visitors appear in her dreams. Thomas eventually escapes and returns home to find Ellen’s condition has worsened. Orlok arrives in Wisborg on a ghost ship ridden with plague infested rats and attempts to possess Ellen and sinister vampire antics commence.

Unfortunately, the movie was much longer than that, dragging on for 2 hours and 12 minutes. Scott actually fell asleep for part of it; we’ve been calling it Napsferatu ever since after a review he read. Maybe I’ve seen too many vampire/horror movies, but I was disappointed. The movie dragged on and on with a few interesting scenes here and there that were jarring and not explained (the scene with the gypsies for example). I thought Lily-Rose Depp did a decent job of acting haunted, although some of her scenes were a bit over the top with the shaking and eye rolling. Same goes for Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok/Nosferatu. The costume and prosthetics were better in the newer version, but the character was still more camp than scary in my opinion. Nicholas Hoult was forgettable as Hutter. 

I had the same problem with Egger’s The Northman which was supposed to be an epic Viking film. That movie was also over 2 hours long and dragged on with too many slow, sweeping scenes and not enough back story. In Egger’s defense though, his version of Nosferatu was pretty true to the original for better or worse. I know a lot of people really loved Nosferatu and I am jaded when it comes to any sort of horror movie because I’ve seen so many, so see it and decide what you thing for yourself. For now, I’m looking forward to seeing Guillermo Del Toro’s version of Frankenstein which is scheduled to be released on Netflix sometime in 2025. 

After the movie we went to our favorite spot in Denver for beer, TRVE Brewing Company. We’ve been going to TRVE since before the pandemic. It’s a goth/black-metal themed bar at 227 Broadway in Denver. The atmosphere is as dark and moody as the music they play, with a long bar and some communal picnic tables filled with people from all walks of life. Anyone who appreciates good beer is welcome there. There is a constantly changing gallery of local art for sale on the wall behind the bar and the tap bar is set up to resemble a satanic alter. We always sit at the bar which is comfortable and the bartenders are friendly and quick with the refills. 

My favorite TRVE beer for a while has been Bloodaxe, a “Nordic Farmhouse Ale Brewed with Orange Peel and Grains of Paradise,” that comes in at 6.0 ABV. They change their tap selection fairly regularly so I’m often “forced” to try something different. A close second for me is the Siren, a Belgian style saison that’s a bit stronger at 7.0 ABV. They also do decent sours. We both liked the most recent sour, Temple of the Living, and ale with blackberry and boysenberry. It’s a mild sour that would make for a good summer porch beer at just 4.5 ABV. They also have a bunch of IPAs if you’re into that kind of thing.

The second best thing about TRVE after their beers is that Music City Hot Chicken from Fort Collins has a window at the back of the bar. I love their Nashville hot sandwiches and tenders. It is really hot with a slightly sweet aftertaste that I find myself craving on a regular basis. The green chili blend isn’t as hot, but it has really good flavor. If I’m ever able to branch out from the Nashville hot, I want to try the Jamaican jerk flavor. They have decent sides: fries, homemade waffles, coleslaw, sweet potato fried, and Brussels sprouts, but I always get the mac & cheese which is hit or miss, but when it’s good, it’s really good. 

So, overall I would give Nosferatu a 7 out of 10; It was entertaining enough and we only paid $6.25 to see it, I just had high expectations. TRVE is always a 10 out of 10 for the beer first of all, the ambiance, and the hot chicken! I’m sure we’ll be back there again before the month is over.