Nicholas Hoult, the star of the Nosferatu remake, has shared a harrowing experience from the film’s production. The Nosferatu remake is based on the 1922 silent film that was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Hoult plays Thomas Hutter in the new version, the equivalent of Jonathan Harker in Stoker’s original story. Director Robert Eggers initially offered the role to Bill Skarsgård before casting Hoult and giving Skarsgård the part of the main antagonist, Count Orlok.
During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Myers, Hoult was asked about the difficulty of acting scared. He admitted that simulating fear can be tiring but then recounted a moment when he truly was terrified. While filming a scene where his character was being chased by wolves, he slipped and nearly didn’t manage to escape through a window. However, Eggers couldn’t use the take because of the silly expression Hoult made in response to the danger. Here’s what Hoult said:
“There was one time where it was true fear. Where we have these wolves in the movie that were chasing me out of a window as I’m trying to escape from Count Orlok’s castle. And I’m like, running on the spot and getting hyped up before the take, and they’re being held back from me on leashes, barking, with death in their eyes. They want to eat.
And I was like, “Whew, okay, this is intense.” And then there’s a time where I run, and I slip, and I nearly didn’t make it out of the window as they’re chasing me, as they’re let loose. And I got out, but then Rob [Eggers] was like, “Cut, cut, cut. No, you pulled a silly face. We can’t use that.”
He was like, “Come watch, look what your face did.” And my face does go like, “Weeeh.” And I was like, “Yeah, that’s not great, but so you know, that’s real fear.” Because I realize, I didn’t ask what happened if the wolves, if the dogs got to me.”
What Hoult’s terrifying experience means for the Nosferatu remake is that it highlights how Hollywood has been lacking vampire movies with genuine dread. Even though Hoult’s near-miss moment didn’t make it into the final cut, the movie itself seems to be instilling a sense of dread in many. With an 86% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the critical response to this new take on the classic vampire myth is a big improvement compared to Hoult’s previous vampire-related role in 2023’s Renfield.
Critics have praised Nosferatu as a much-needed return to the horror elements that are fundamental to vampire mythology. Its Count Orlok is a very different kind of bloodsucker from modern counterparts, swapping camp humor for real terror. This movie serves as a contrast not just to Hoult’s other vampire roles but to the genre as a whole.
Hoult’s Nosferatu near miss was probably never in any real danger. While Hoult isn’t sure what would have happened if the dogs (posing as wolves) had reached him before he escaped, the on-set handlers likely would have quickly controlled the animals. The animals used in such productions are usually well-trained and carefully monitored for everyone’s safety. Still, it’s easy to understand the genuine fear Hoult felt. And although that particular take didn’t make the final cut of Nosferatu, perhaps audiences will get to see Hoult’s reaction as bonus content in a future physical media release of the movie.
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