Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Few scares but strong visuals in silent horror classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
What's the Story?
In NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR, real estate agent Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) is sent to Transylvania to sell property to a mysterious Count Orlok (Max Schreck). As he spends time at the Count's remote castle, Hutter is more and more alarmed by his behavior, while back home in Wisborg, his wife, Ellen (Greta Schröder), begins having terrifying dreams. By the time they realize the two are connected, they must stop the vampiric Count before he unleashes terror on their hometown.
Is It Any Good?
An absolute classic of the genre, German director F.W. Murnau's (unauthorized) retelling of the Dracula story is visually iconic and has been hugely influential in the century since it was made. Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror may be unlikely to scare modern audiences, but budding scholars and genre fans will no doubt appreciate the German Expressionist style and eerie organ music that still make an impact, 100 years on. Those who've seen the 2024 remake will notice plenty of similarities, but this silent, black-and-white original is not to be challenged. Infamous moments like Orlok (not Dracula—all names were changed because Murnau didn't get permission from Bram Stoker's estate) rising stiffly from the coffin, Ellen sleepwalking on the balcony's edge, and the first looming view of the Transylvanian castle have been etched firmly into film history. As the subtitle suggests, it's a "symphony of horror": powerful, atmospheric, and haunting well beyond its final credits.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether they found Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror scary or not. Do you think you experienced the film differently than audiences back in the 1920s? If so, why?
The movie was remade in 2024, more than a century after the original. Have you seen the remake? If so, how does it compare?
What aspects of the movie did you notice have become common in horror films? Did the visuals remind you of any more recent movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 1, 1929
- On DVD or streaming : October 21, 1991
- Cast : Max Schreck , Gustav von Wangenheim , Greta Schröder
- Director : F.W. Murnau
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Film Arts Guild
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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