Have you ever noticed that certain concepts are so prevalent in popular culture that you already know them long before you become interested in the stories that spawned them? For example, I can almost guarantee that your very first exposure to vampires was not through a vampire movie, but rather something more innocuous like a cereal mascot or a surprise appearance in a Saturday morning cartoon.
I have been thinking about this phenomenon since the filmmaker Robert Eggers publicly acknowledged that Count Orlok’s brief but unforgettable appearances in Spongebob were responsible for introducing Nosferatu to a whole new generation – which undoubtedly contributed to the success of his new film. And in honor of this surprisingly influential appearance, we’ve decided to put together a list celebrating six other memorable Nosferatu media appearances. After all, some horror legends are just too powerful to be contained in a single medium!
As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your favorite Count Orlok cameos if you think we missed a particularly fun one.
That being settled, on the list…
6. Petir – What we do in the shadows (2014)
One of the funniest elements of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s groundbreaking mockumentary, the basement-dwelling Petyr is an obvious homage to Max Schreck’s iconic monster. From his protruding front teeth to his bestial attitude, Petyr’s roommates don’t need to call him “Orlok” for horror fans to understand who he’s supposed to be.
That being said, the real reason Petyr is on this list is the meta implication that he is the source of the other vampire archetypes in the film, with the ancient vampire being the one who created him. turn Deacon in much the same way as the original Nosferatu has inspired just about every subsequent cinematic vampire.
5. The vampire of Saint Denis – Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
From wandering cryptids to familiar rusty wheelchairs, the developers at Rockstar Games are no strangers to horror-related rumors about their work. That being said, even die-hard fans were surprised to discover an undead easter egg in the studio’s latest release, with Red Dead Redemption 2 secretly harboring a serial killer vampire who bears more than a passing resemblance to Count Orlok.
Even though the vampire of Saint Denis is remarkably well hidden (and can kill the player with a single hit after being found), this spooky little side quest remains a great example of how a little genre influence can go a long way. goes a long way when it comes to telling a memorable story.
4. Nosferatu the Silent Vampire – Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole (2010)
Dino Stamatopoulos’ work on Clean hole has perhaps not acquired the same notoriety as Orel Moralbut this stop-motion horror comedy still remains one of Adult Swim’s most underrated productions. And since the whole show essentially serves as a love letter to the golden age of monster movies, it was only natural that Stamatopoulos also included a homage to FW Murnau’s gothic masterpiece.
Communicating exclusively through silent film intertitles, the series version Nosferatu is more of a recurring background character than a part of the main whole, but it’s genre-specific details like these that make the world of Clean hole such a delight for horror fans.
3. Count Olrox – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)
As much as I love Netflix Castlevania adaptation, I can’t quite forgive the showrunners for Nocturnal to change a character that was originally a Nosferatu reference to another aristocratic vampire. You see, the evil Count Olrox (Orlok in the original Japanese) first appeared as a boss in 1997. Symphony of the nightwhere the unsightly vampire attempted to usurp Dracula’s authority over his magical castle.
The artwork depicting the character has changed a lot over the years – with the above Nocturnal depicting Olrox as an ancient Aztec nobleman – but his original appearance was clearly meant to be a pixel-art revision of Max Schreck’s nightmarish visuals, albeit with a fancy purple costume thrown into the mix.
And here’s a fun fact: Olrox’s humanoid form has exactly 666 hit points, which matches the character’s demonic origins in Murnau’s original film!
2. Nosferatus considered a comedy – Interview with the Vampire (2022)
It may not be as stylish as its big screen counterpart (and I don’t think anyone can ever replace Tom Cruise as Lestat), but AMC’s film Interview with the Vampire the reboot is way better than it has any right to be. Of course, much of the series’ appeal comes from the fact that the serialized format allows for more detailed world-building and character development, a good example being the first season episode. The merciless pursuit of blood with all the demands of a child.
Not only does this episode turn Claudia’s tragic story on its head, but it also features one of my favorite moments of the entire series as the vampire “family” attends a screening of Murnau’s film. Nosferatu only to find themselves laughing at what they perceive to be absurdist comedy.
I guess undead humor isn’t for everyone!
1. Nosferatu the demon vampire in Are you afraid of the dark? – The Tale of Midnight Madness (1993)
A milestone in television horror, Canada’s answer to Goosebumps once told a remarkably post-modern horror story that also featured Count Orlok as its main antagonist. In the season 2 episode The Tale of Midnight Madnesswe follow the employees of an old-fashioned movie theater as they resort to showing a mysterious film to keep the business going, with the screening of “Nosferatu: The Vampire Demon» accidentally unleashing the film’s vampiric villain on the audience.
Although this version of the Count is simply called “Nosferatu” (much like his Spongebob cameo), the character is clearly meant to be a riff on Max Schreck’s original performance. Actor Chris Heyerdahl even incorporated some of Schreck’s over-the-top mannerisms into his throwback performance, which is probably why this episode is often cited by ’90s kids as the source of countless childhood nightmares.
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