Synopsis

In 1921, filmmaker F.W. Murnau begins shooting his vampire film Nosferatu with the mysterious Max Schreck in the lead role. Schreck's unsettling behavior and total devotion to the character gradually convince the cast and crew that he may be something more than an eccentric actor. As Murnau pursues perfect realism, his artistic obsession places everyone involved in increasing danger.

Factoids & Trivia

• Shadow of the Vampire is a fictionalized account of the making of F.W. Murnau's 1922 film Nosferatu. Its central premise draws on an old legend that Max Schreck was actually a vampire, rather than an actor portraying one.

• The film was produced through a multinational partnership involving Nicolas Cage's Saturn Films, Britain's Long Shot Pictures and BBC Films, as well as Luxembourg production companies and the Luxembourg Film Fund.

• Principal photography took place in Luxembourg from April 18 through May 28, 1999. Vianden Castle supplied the interiors for several of the period locations.

• Nicolas Cage originally considered playing Max Schreck himself before Willem Dafoe took the role.

• The production deliberately echoes silent-film techniques, including intertitles, iris effects, stark compositions, and stylized camera movement. Portions of the original Nosferatu are also incorporated into the film.

• Willem Dafoe's performance earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The makeup work was nominated as well at the 73rd Academy Awards.

• The film had its world premiere at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, where it was presented in the Directors' Fortnight section.

• Although Max Schreck was strongly associated with Nosferatu, he was an established German stage and screen actor who appeared in many other productions before his death in 1936.