F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent masterpiece Nosferatu stands as one of the most influential horror films ever made, establishing visual tropes that would define the vampire genre for a century. This unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula follows real estate agent Thomas Hutter as he travels to Transylvania to meet the mysterious Count Orlok, who becomes obsessed with Hutter's wife Ellen after seeing her portrait.

Max Schreck's performance as Count Orlok remains one of cinema's most chilling portrayals, with his rodent-like features, elongated fingers, and haunting presence creating an unforgettable monster. Unlike later romanticized vampires, Orlok is pure nightmare fuel - a plague-bearing creature whose arrival brings death and disease to the German town of Wisborg. The film's German Expressionist cinematography creates a world of distorted shadows and unsettling angles that perfectly complements the supernatural horror.

What makes Nosferatu essential viewing is its historical significance as the first cinematic vampire and its enduring power to unsettle modern audiences. Murnau's direction creates genuine dread through simple but effective techniques - the use of negative film for ghostly apparitions, time-lapse photography, and Orlok's iconic shadow climbing stairs. While the plot differs from Stoker's novel (changing names to avoid copyright issues), it captures the essence of parasitic horror and forbidden desire. Watching Nosferatu today offers not just a classic horror experience but a window into early filmmaking innovation that continues to influence directors from Werner Herzog to Robert Eggers.