Nosferatus star Nicholas Hoult has revealed one of his scariest encounters during production of the horror remake. Based on the 1922 silent film which was itself an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's book Dracula, Hoult joined the Nosferatus remake cast as Thomas Hutter. Serving as an analogue for Stoker's original character Jonathan Harker, director Robert Eggers initially offered the role to Bill Skarsgård before eventually casting him as the film's main antagonist, Count Orlok.
During a recent Late Night with Seth Myers appearance, Hoult was asked how difficult it was to act in fear. Admitting that while it can be exhausting to simulate fear, he revealed a moment when he experienced genuine terror. Explaining that while filming a scene involving his character being chased by wolveshe slipped and barely escaped through the window, although Eggers was unable to use the cut due to the silly face Hoult was making in response. Check out his comments and the video below:
There was a time when it was true fear. Where we have these wolves in the film that were chasing me through the window as I was trying to escape Count Orlok's castle. And I'm like, running around on location and getting excited before the take, and they're being kept away from me by their leashes, barking, with death in their eyes. They want to eat.
And I was like, “Wow, okay, this is intense.” And then there comes a time when I run, I slip, and I barely make it out of the window while they're chasing me, while they're being released. And I left, but then Rob [Eggers] it was like, “Cut, cut, cut. No, you looked stupid. We can’t use that.”
He said, “Come watch, see what your face has done.” And my face is like, “Weeeh.” And I thought, “Yeah, that's not great, but, you know, that's real fear.” Because I realize that I didn't ask what would happen if the wolves, if the dogs got to me.
What Nicholas Hoult's Terrifying Experience Means for the Nosferatu Remake
Hollywood sorely misses vampire films with true dread
Although Hoult's near miss never made it into Eggers' final version, Nosferatus yet it seems to be filling much more with dread than its stars. Praised by critics and currently boasting an 86% Fresh rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the critical response to this latest version of the classic vampire myth is an Big improvement compared to Hoult's previous outing in a Dracula-inspired tale2023 Renfield.
Hailed by critics as a much-needed return to the horror aspects that underpin vampire mythology, Nosferatu Count Orlok is a very different kind of bloodsucker compared to some of his more modern compatriots.
Trading camp humor for genuine horror, Eggers' film not only serves as an important counterpoint to Hoult's involvement in vampire films, but to the genre as a whole. Hailed by critics as a much-needed return to the horror aspects that underpin vampire mythology, Nosferatu Count Orlok is a very different kind of bloodsucker compared to some of his more modern compatriots. Negotiating a more sympathetic and heavily romanticized approach adopted by so many other films, the key to Nosferatu success is exactly the kind of fear Hoult experienced in person on set.
Our Take on Hoult's Almost Lost Nosferatu
He was probably never in real danger
While Hoult remains unclear what would have happened if the dogs had caught up with him before his escape, the animals likely would have been quickly brought under control by their on-set handlers. Although they may look like wild wolves in the final product, the types of the animals used for productions of this nature are normally well trained and carefully monitored for the safety of the cast and crew.
Still, it's not hard to imagine the kind of genuine fear Hoult's experience would inspire. Although this particular shot was never made Nosferatusof In the final cut, hopefully, audiences will still get the chance to see Hoult's reaction as potential bonus content in the film's future physical media release.
Source: Late Night with Seth Myers