Get ready for a spooky treat as Robert Eggers’ remake of the 1922 classic Nosferatu hits theaters. While the film has garnered praise for its performances, cinematography, and eerie vibe, one thing remains clear: Hollywood still struggles to adapt Bram Stoker’s Dracula faithfully.
Why No Adaptation Lives Up to the Book
Despite Dracula’s status as a key influence on vampire fiction, adaptations continually alter key aspects of the story. From F.W. Murnau’s 1922 Nosferatu to more recent films, changes have shaped our perception of the original book.
In Nosferatu, characters were renamed to avoid copyright issues, and the story was relocated to Germany. Over the years, adaptations like the 1931 Dracula starring Bela Lugosi turned Count Dracula into the suave aristocrat we now recognize, a stark contrast to the book’s more monstrous, decaying figure. Van Helsing’s role also shifted; in the book, he’s an eccentric professor with no vampire-hunting experience, but adaptations have made him an expert monster hunter.
The Women of Dracula: Misunderstood Characters
Mina Harker is far from the helpless victim often depicted in film adaptations. In the book, Mina is smart, brave, and plays a crucial role in Dracula’s defeat, working behind the scenes to gather vital information. But many adaptations, like Coppola’s 1992 version, turn her into a character who falls in love with Dracula, missing the point of her strength and intellect.
Similarly, Lucy Westenra is often portrayed in adaptations like Coppola’s as a flirtatious woman, but this misses the original portrayal of Lucy as a pure and innocent character tragically turned into a vampire.
Eggers’ Nosferatu: Beautiful but Missing the Point
Eggers’ Nosferatu follows the basic outline of Dracula, but like past adaptations, it doesn’t get the characters right. Ellen Hutter (played by Lily-Rose Depp), who represents Mina, lacks the intelligence and strength of her literary counterpart. Instead, she spends much of the film in distress. Her sacrifice to stop Orlok feels flat, as the logic behind her actions isn’t clear.
Still Waiting for the Perfect Dracula Adaptation
Despite countless adaptations, none have captured the essence of Stoker’s Dracula. Whether it’s Eggers’ Nosferatu, Coppola’s version, or others, the story’s important elements are consistently altered or misunderstood, leaving the definitive adaptation still elusive.