Biggest Differences Between Nosferatu and Dracula

One of the most anticipated films of the year, if not the most, is Robert Eggers’ imagining of the 1922 German silent film, Nosferatu. Arriving just in time for the holidays on Christmas Day, Eggers’ Nosferatu has been a huge topic of conversation among film fans and horror fans alike this year. Early reactions from advanced screenings so far prove that this film demands to be seen on the big screen as soon as possible. According to Letterboxd, the film is the most anticipated of the year among users. The excitement surrounding this movie is undeniable.

Still, many people are unaware of the origins of the character of Nosferatu. The original 1922 silent film is based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula. So, it should be safe to assume that Nosferatu, a.k.a. Count Orlok, and Count Dracula are the same characters, and essentially, they are. However, due to legalities, director F.W. Murnau had to make slight changes to the character to release the film. These changes evolved into renaming the character and other characteristics that created this sort of alternate version of Dracula.

An Unauthorized and Unofficial Adaptation

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The 1922 film was never authorized by Stoker’s estate and Murnau never purchased the rights to the novel. With Stoker recently deceased, his widow Florence decided to seek restitution for her late husband’s intellectual property. The lawsuit filed by Ms. Stoker eventually led to the bankruptcy of Nosferatu’s production company. Not only did it bankrupt the production company, the court mandated that all copies of the film be destroyed. Some historians have pointed out that there is little to no evidence that Ms. Stoker ever watched Murnau’s film since he made numerous changes to the Dracula character. Moreover, the ultimate demise of the Orlok in the film was changed drastically from Stoker’s novel.

Thankfully, all copies of Nosferatu were unable to be destroyed. Universal Studios purchased the rights to the novel later, leading to the 1931 Dracula film starring Bela Lugosi in the titular role. Although controversial at the time, Nosferatu undeniably shaped the horror genre, and its mark on horror filmmaking is still seen over a hundred years later. It effectively established much of the vampiric lore we still use in books, film, and television today. From appearances to the effects of the sun, Nosferatu essentially created the blueprint for vampire media. The rights to the Dracula novel now exist in the public domain, so there are no restrictions on who can adapt the gothic novel, and countless adaptations have been made since.

So, what are the biggest differences between Count Orlok and Count Dracula?

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Their Names

One of the changes Murnau had to make in his film was the name of the titular vampire. He was renamed to Count Orlok from Count Dracula, which eventually became Nosferatu. The name ‘Nosferatu’ is a derivative of the old Romanian word “nesuferitu,” which translates to the ‘insufferable one’ or the ‘offensive one’. Nesuferitu has also historically been synonymous with the word “vampire.”

Nesuferitu eventually became Nosferatu in the German silent film and has since become well-known in both vampire media and pop culture. While the character’s name was officially changed to Count Orlok in the 1922 film, the name ‘Nosferatu’ can be used both to refer to his undead self and as a secondary name. Although, it is typically not used to refer to Dracula.

The name “Dracula” is also derivative of an old Romanian word, “Drăculea,” which is the genitive form of the word “Dracul.” “Drăculea” means “son of the Dracul,” or “son of the dragon.” The name “Dracul” comes from the Romanian word “Drac,” which means dragon. The name was given to Vlad III Dracula, who is also known as Vlad the Impaler. His father, Vlad II Dracula, was a member of the Christian knightly group Order of the Dragon.

It is said that Bram Stoker came across the name at a library while on a trip. Since Stoker drew inspiration for his novel from Transylvanian folklore, it is possible that he named his protagonist after Vlad the Impaler, although he never actually mentioned it as an inspiration.

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Their Appearances

Many versions and adaptations of Dracula have been made in the 127 years since the novel was first published. Count Dracula typically looks human and can be quite suave. He easily seduces his victims with his charm, personality, and looks. Dracula is an unsuspecting monster because he doesn’t look like one. He is usually adapted as an attractive man, and even when his vampiric nature is revealed, he maintains his appearance.

The same cannot be said for Count Orlok. Orlok has a notoriously rat-like face and a very pale complexion. He has almost talon-like nails, a narrow nose, and large pointed ears. Orlok is meant to look like a monstrous nightmare, whereas Dracula can blend in with humans and gain their trust. Vampires have fangs, but even Orlok’s teeth look hideous compared to Dracula’s.

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The Effects of Their Bite

One of the most infamous characteristics of a vampire is its wicked bite. Some vampire bites can kill a person, while some can turn the victim into a vampire. In some stories, a vampire’s bite can do either or, depending on how much blood they consume. Dracula’s bite isn’t fatal, it can only turn a person into a vampire. Which is what he wants to do anyway. In the book, he drinks Mina Murray’s blood three times, forcing her to drink his blood during the final encounter. This dooms her to become a vampire after death unless Dracula is killed.

Orlok’s bite, on the other hand, is fatal. Once he sinks his teeth into a person’s neck, it’s over for them. Orlok is uninterested in turning others into vampires, so his deadly bite works in his favor. The very sight of blood is enough to drive Orlok’s teeth into a person’s skin. His blood lust supersedes everything else, and he has no remorse for whoever he kills.

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The Harsh Effects of the Sun

Another infamous trait of vampires is that the sun is extremely harmful to them. In some movies or shows, a vampire will burst into flames once the sunlight touches them, such as in the HBO show True Blood. For Dracula, the sun greatly weakens him. It won’t necessarily kill him, however. The guaranteed way to kill Dracula is to stab him through the heart and decapitate him, which is what Jonathan Harker does at the end of the novel. The sun would certainly slow him down, though.

For Orlok, the sun’s rays are lethal. Just one moment in the sun would end his life. This is one of the most notable changes made from Stoker’s novel. Instead of being killed via stabbing and decapitation, Orlok turns to dust once the sunlight hits him at the end of the film. His relentless bloodlust is what puts him in the sun’s path to begin with, as he tries to feed off a woman despite the sun beginning to rise.

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Dracula Is a Romantic, Orlok Is Looking to Feed

Count Dracula may be a blood-sucking vampire, but he is also a traditional romantic. He courts women and seduces them with ease. It is part of the game for him. He wants to form a romantic connection with the women he drinks from, he doesn’t want to just dispose of them afterward. Dracula becomes infatuated with Mina Murray not just for her blood, but because he actually wants her too.

Count Orlok is not at all a romantic. He has one goal in mind; to feed. When he seeks out a human to drink from, it is solely to feed, and he does not care what happens to them after that. Again, his bloodlust supersedes everything. Orlok sails from Transylvania to the fictional German town of Wisborg just to feed on Thomas Hutter’s wife. After seeing Hutter’s mini-portrait of her, he remarks that she has a “lovely neck.” The remark was not because he finds beauty in her, but more so that her neck is perfectly suited to being bitten. While both Dracula and Orlok share similar intensity when it comes to pursuing a victim, their reasoning differs greatly.

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Differences in Powers and Objectives

We know that Dracula is a romantic while Orlok is bloodthirsty. It is more than just a difference in personality, however. Both their abilities and goals differ greatly. As we have established, Dracula’s bite turns a person into a vampire while Orlok’s is fatal. The difference in powers works in both characters’ favor as it aligns with their ultimate goal. Dracula wants to create more vampires and can exercise more control over his bite than Orlok. His ability to move in the sunlight to an extent is a huge advantage that Orlok simply does not possess. Dracula is also an excellent manipulator and charmer, which helps him successfully lure victims into his realm.

Orlok, on the other hand, has far less control over his powers and is driven solely by his need for blood. It consumes his every thought, which is why he meets his demise the way he does; a horrible death in the sunlight. When he sees or smells blood, he has zero control and acts impulsively. Whereas Dracula can push past his bloodlust just enough to achieve his goals. Orlok is uninterested in creating more vampires. Instead, he spreads a plague-like disease through his bite, turning his victims into rabid creatures. Along with his diseased fangs, he spreads his infectious plague with the help of rats.

One other major difference between the two is their superhuman abilities. Dracula is a shapeshifter, meaning he can completely change his form. Most notably, Dracula can transform into a bat. Orlok cannot turn into another creature, but he does have the power of telekinesis. Albeit, he has limited telekinetic powers, as he can open doors and gates without touching them. He can also levitate his body and has an almost telepathic ability, which he displays when he senses his servant’s death.

Nosferatu is in theaters Christmas Day.