Over winter break, two highly anticipated movies hit theaters on Christmas Day– the horror film “Nosferatu” and the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” The movies were expected to be greeted in a similar fashion to the year’s blockbusters, but having a Christmas release has been scrutinized by many, especially considering the narrow, primary audience of each film. Despite this, the films are being praised in their own unique way.
“Nosferatu” is a remake of the 1922 German silent film, which depicts an unauthorized adaption of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” The storyline comprises slight deviations from the book, including the name of “Count Dracula” having been changed to “Count Orlok.” Despite the illegitimacy and the silent film’s lack of originality, the story of “Nosferatu” has an established fan base. The release of the new “Nosferatu” has given the story more substance than simply retelling of an old tale.
“A Complete Unknown” tells the story of Dylan and his 1960s rise to fame in the music industry. Many viewers have been drawn to the film out of intrigue, as Timothée Chalamet plays Dylan. Chalamet’s last film release in March 2024, “Dune: Part Two,” set the bar high for the actor, as it received extremely positive reviews. “A Complete Unknown” presented an entirely new genre for Chalamet to explore, and many viewers of the film are raving about his performance as Dylan.
Christ Popolauf, a box office worker at Cinemark Theater in Perrysburg, Ohio, worked on Christmas Day, and was disappointed by the turnout.
“(The theater was) not as busy as I expected, but it was steady,” Popolauf said.
To him, he feels the sparse crowds likely have more to do with the holiday’s release than the quality of the films. Despite this, Popolauf noticed trends in both movies’ audiences. He stated he was surprised by the wide variety of ages that “Nosferatu” drew in.
“(I saw) older people, younger people and middle of the road (ages, which) was shocking,” Popolauf said. “But, with “A Complete Unknown’ (it was) definitely an older crowd.”
After seeing “Nosferatu,” Grand Valley State University student James Richardson noted the film surpassed his expectations. However, he feels not everyone would enjoy the movie.
“If you happen to like horror movies that are slower and more grotesque than regular slashers, you’re most likely going to enjoy this one,” Richardson said. “That being said, people that enjoyed it seemed like they really enjoyed it.”
In theaters and on social media, “Nosferatu” seems to have taken center stage over “A Complete Unknown.” Rotten Tomatoes critics have declared “Nosferatu” is “a behemoth of a horror film that is equal parts repulsive and seductive,” earning the film a score of 85%.
“I was excited to see this one,” Richardson said. “I’ve seen Robert Eggers’ other films, and I really admire his creativity and style of filmmaking.”
As for “A Complete Unknown,” it was well-received, according to Popolauf. However, he heard nothing particularly remarkable from the film’s viewers. Popolauf assumed the movie accurately exhibits Dylan’s life in an enjoyable way for both casual movie-goers and hardcore fans.
GVSU student Owen Frassetto enjoyed the film, despite previously not having known much about Dylan.
“I went to see the movie with family on a whim,” said Frassetto. “I thought that it was a great introduction into who he is, and they portrayed the good and bad things about him. If there was any hero in the movie, it was Pete Seeger.”
The Christmas Day double release of “Nosferatu” and “A Complete Unknown” may not have been equivalent to the excitement of ‘Barbenheimer,’ but both films are packed with celebrities and intriguing storylines that have earned stellar reviews.
