Nosferatu

Director: Robert Eggers

Genre:  Horror/Fantasy

Language: English

Year:2024

Plot

Year 1838.

Thomas Hutter, a young estate agent is sent to Count Orlok's castle in Transylvania by his superior, to prepare documents as Orlok plans to buy a new house in town. in the way he encounters, Gypsies and witnesses their ceremonies which makes him uncomfortable. His horse is stolen and he is left alone in the inn. Soon, he meets Lord Orlock himself and as the days pass, Hutter discovers Orlok is not exactly what he claims to be...but something ancient and evil....But can he do anything to stop him? Will that even matter?

He left his wife Ellen with his friends Friedrich and Anna Harding for the time. Ellen realized that her nightmares returning and with it an evil that got connected to her a long time ago...

Vish View

Nosferatu- the original film - was an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stocker's Dracula. Because of the legal problems related to rights from Stocker Estate, the filmmakers were forced to change the character names and some parts of the original story. Even so, the film is a classic example of a gothic horror film. Max Schreck's performance as Count Orlock is iconic. We can see its influence in various films throughout history. The film inspires filmmakers even today.

Robert Eggers watched it when he was 8 years old and loved it. Retelling the story was his dream; in 2024, he delivered it as his best creation. He rewrote the story and made some necessary changes to make it more appealing to the viewer - this feels like a horror fairy tale. The relationship between Ellen and the vampire is given more importance - which gives depth to both characters. Every character is written so well and performed brilliantly by the actors - special mention to Lily and Skarsgård. 

Eggers has used both visual and sound mediums to its best. Redesigning the character of Orlok was a smart and creative move - which gives this movie its own identity as a gothic horror masterpiece.

The story of Dracula is something that will enchant people forever and so will this modern take on the classic horror tale.

 

Black Warrant

Director: Vikramaditya Motwane, Satyanshu Singh

Genre:  Crime/Drama

Language: Hind

Year:2025

Streaming Platform: Netflix

Plot

1981

New Delhi

India

Suni Kumar Gupta, a young man joins Tihar jail as a warden. Will he handle the pressure and survive in Asia's largest prison? Will he learn to swim or will he drown? 

This is not only Sunil's story - this is the story of his colleagues as well as the prisoners - this is the story of Tihar.

Vish View

Motwane has created the series based on the book 'Black Warrant: Confessions of a Thiar Jailer' which is based on the life of Sunil Kumar Gupta, the real-life Tihar jailer.

Well-written and directed, with top-notch performances by the cast - Zahan Kapoor, Rahul Bhat, Anurag Thakur, Paramveer Cheema, Sidhant Gupta, etc.- the series explores some of the most famous cases and criminals in India's history. Also, the show beautifully explores the relationship between Gupta and the people working with him, which adds to the overall experience - at the end of the day everything comes down to human relationships.

What a brilliant start for 2025.

Flow

Director: Gints Zilbalodis 

Genre:  Adventure/Drama

Language: English

Year:2024

Plot

A cat lives mostly alone, not depending on anyone else. However, things change for the little black cat when a flood destroys its home. He ends up in a boat floating in the water. To survive, he must now change—he must continue the journey with a group of other animals. 

A beautiful story of survival, change, and friendship.

Vish View

The story is told from the viewpoint of a cat - how he sees the world and how he tries to overcome the flood. During that time, he meets other animals - with each he shares a different dynamic - all this is shown through breathtaking animation - there is not a single dialogue in the film. It is like watching 'Animal Planet' without the narration - it automatically happens in our mind because of the beautiful visuals.

A film that will connect to everyone - must watch.

 

Marco

Director: Haneef Adeni

Genre:  Action

Language: Malayalam

Year:2024

Plot

When his blind stepbrother is brutally murdered, Marco returns to Kerala from Italy to find the culprit and to take revenge. As he investigates, he realizes the people standing with him are not his friends. So begins the revenge saga...

Vish View

Marco is the most brutal violent film in the history of Indian cinema.

Haneef Adeni has set a benchmark with this film which won't be easy to break.

Unni Mukundan has everything - the swag, the attitude, the physique - for a mass action hero and delivers it perfectly. Backed by a brilliant cast of Siddique, Jagadish, etc along with debutant Abhimanyu Thilakan and music by Ravi Basur, the film is a treat for action genre lovers.

However, many brutal scenes in the movie may create problems for softhearted people.

For me, it was a superb big-screen experience - Peak movie.

 

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant)

Director: Ariane Louis-Seize

Genre:  Horror/Fantasy

Language: French

Year:2023

Plot

Sasha (Sara Montpetit) gets very uncomfortable if she sees violence. She loves to play her harmonium and watch magic. Normally this won't be a problem because that is how most girls behave. But Sasha is not a normal girl - she is a vampire and no violence means she doesn't know how to hunt her prey - and it is a big problem - something she must figure out soon...

Vish View

Confused about what to do - disappointed parents - young love - even if the movie is a vampire story, it felt like a family drama. 

Sara Montpetit was brilliant.

It is the cutest vampire story ever.

Loved it.

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror

Director: F.W Murnau

Genre:  Horror/Fantasy

Language: German/English

Year:1922

Plot

Year 1838.

Thomas Hutter is an estate agent. He is sent to Count Orlok's castle in Transylvania to prepare documents as Orlok plans to buy a new house in town. While traveling Hutter receives some bad signs from local folks while mentioning Orlok. Soon, he will discover why...

Vish View

Nosferatu is an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stocker's Dracula. Because of the legal problems related to rights from Stocker Estate, the filmmakers were forced to change the character names and some parts of the original story. Even so, the film is a classic example of a gothic horror film. Max Schreck's performance as Count Orlock is iconic. We can see its influence in various films throughout history. The film inspires filmmakers even today.

For me, this is the oldest film I have watched in my life It was a different experience watching this silent film and I enjoyed it very much.

I am looking forward to the 2024 remake written and directed by Robert Eggers.

Yojimbo

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Genre:  Action

Language: Japanese

Year:1961

Plot

Set in feudal Japan, the film explores the events in a village ruled by two rival gangs. When an unnamed Samurai enters the village, the gang leaders try to hire him to their side. So whom will the warrior choose? 

Vish View

My first Akira Kurosawa film.

I have watched only a few black-and-white movies. So this was something new for me.

The film is from 1961. Even so, the story felt good and the actors looked cool like illustrations from a comic book. I have read that Rajinikanth's style in the films is inspired by the hero of this film. 

Good watch. 

Maybe I will explore more old films in the future...