The highly anticipated remake of the classic horror film “Nosferatu” hit theaters on Christmas Day, and fans are flocking to see Bill Skarsgård’s chilling portrayal of Count Orlok. David White, the movie’s prosthetic make-up designer, has revealed an intriguing detail about the film’s shocking climax. In the final scene, Orlok meets his demise when exposed to the sun’s rays while distracted by Ellen, played by Lily-Rose Depp.
Ellen sacrifices herself, allowing Orlok to fulfill his dark desire at the precise pre-dawn moment. Her death is a blend of horror and gothic allure, while Orlok’s is purely terrifying. White shared how they created Orlok’s lifeless appearance, staying true to writer-director Robert Eggers’ meticulous attention to detail.
“Robert wanted to cut from Orlok’s agonizing screams to the final shot of him lying dead on Ellen, reduced to a mere husk,” White explained. “I showed Robert various stages of decay and withering.
Orlok’s demise reveals stunning details
He wanted Orlok to look as if every last drop of life had been drained from him. Our ultimate inspiration came from a photo of a 5,300-year-old iceman discovered in the Alps.”
The end result combines practical effects and VFX. “After completing the practical effect, it was filmed within the scene,” White continued.
“VFX then scanned the corpse and Bill in this final look. They enhanced the painful withering moment between the two looks to complete the scene.”
To make the desiccated “husk” even more striking, White took a unique approach to Orlok’s overall appearance throughout the film. “I wanted to keep his age ambiguous—ageless, in a sense,” he told Variety.
“I achieved this by carefully controlling the number of wrinkles and character lines, keeping the look more minimal with no hoods over his eyelids and no eye bags. He also needed to be appealing and charismatic to Ellen, able to conceal his filthy rot and decay by staying in the shadows.”
Nosferatu is now playing in theaters, offering horror enthusiasts a fresh take on the iconic vampire tale.
