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A hopefully comprehensive screenshot analysis from Nosferatu the Vampyre, 1979 by Werner Herzog. This was a short assignment for my German film class that I found really fun, I enjoyed picking apart small details. The best part about watching movies is believing that everything is intentional, not just the plot, but even how the film is made such as the lighting and composition of a single frame.
The context of this scene is Nosferatu (right) entering Harker's (left) room, as the vampire begins to haunt him at night after Harker suspects him of being inhuman.
In this shot, 70% of the screen is completely black. The focus of the scene being the two dimly illuminated figures of Harker in the foreground, and Nosferatu in the background. While nothing is explicitly distorted, the borders of reality are blurred by the surrounding darkness, both characters almost seem to be floating as their surroundings cannot be made out, making for a dream-like -or nightmarish picture. The use of lowkey lighting is essential in this scene to convey not only horror, but Nosferatu as a creature of the dark, as his figure is highlighted by the faint lighting from behind him as he looms in the doorway. This lighting is important in characterizing Nosferatu as evil, as it makes his pale flesh, long, slender hands, and pointed ears stand out, revealing that he is something inhuman. The lighting of this shot is reminiscent of the 1922 Nosferatu and German Expressionism in general, utilizing shadows and highlights to create mood, convey emotion, and tell the story in a silent scene. The composition of the shot is important in pitting the two against each other as Harker is posed on his back, belly up: a position of fear and submission. This creates a natural scene of a predator hunting and cornering its prey. The use of a still shot adds to the suspense of the scene as Nosferatu emerges from the dark and the audience is stuck, frozen in fear with Harker, in a helpless state.
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