‘Nosferatu’ (2024) 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – Robert Eggers Brings His Distinct Vision To A Classic Text

Robert Eggers’ (The Lighthouse, The Witch) NOSFERATU is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. Starring Bill Skarsgård (It franchise, Barbarian), Lily-Rose Depp (“The Idol”, The King), Nicholas Hoult (Renfield, The Menu), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals, Bullet Train), Emma Corrin (Deadpool & Wolverine, “The Crown”), and Willem Dafoe (The Northman, The Lighthouse).

For in-depth thoughts on Nosferatu, please see my colleague Will Bjarnar’s review from its original theatrical release here. 

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Nosferatu offers a steady uptick in quality over the already fetching accompanying Blu-Ray, deftly capturing the Oscar-nominated aesthetic intended by director Robert Eggers and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke. The standout improvements are in the black levels that comprise the lion’s share of this feature. Scenes occurring at night or in shadow retain much more pleasing depth that allows you to make out distinct details thanks to its deep, inky presentation. The highlights in the film are more firmly defined with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming observed

The expanded nuance of the color spectrum is quite a feat to behold as Dolby Vision translates this world in a way that executes Eggers’ vision flawlessly. This is a very moody, desaturated film much of the time which means you are not going to have candy-colored hues radiating off the screen. Yet, this presentation allows the colors that are on the screen to be more considered and natural to the world, and the radiance of the fire provides at least some striking moments. Skin tones appear even more natural with a precise amount of crisp detail apparent on faces such as the horrific makeup that is key to the titular character. This 4K UHD presentation delivers a monumental presentation. Universal has knocked it out of the park with this disc. 

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with an exquisite Dolby Atmos presentation that fully immerses you in this world. Sounds are deftly rendered with precise directionality from the thrilling scenes to the numerous interpersonal moments of dialogue. Dialogue is presented clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the competing sonic elements. Ambient details are vital to this experience and are quite satisfying in the rear and overhead channels. The overhead channels complement the other channels well which adds a nice sense of space and immediacy to the mix. 

Numerous thrilling set pieces give you quite a visceral experience. The track delivers an expansive experience with screams and other unsettling sonic details from every direction. The low end provides some heft to the proceedings so you can feel the immense presence of Count Orlok. The unbelievable Robin Carolan score set the tone for the proceedings quite capably. The audio presentation delivers everything you could want from it. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Theatrical Cut (2:12:29) and Extended Cut (2:15:57)
• Audio Commentary: Director Robert Eggers delivers a fantastic commentary track that is packed with great behind-the-scenes information as he discusses the efforts that went into bringing this world to life, the intricacies of the production design and costumes, his motivation behind certain choices and much more. Eggers is such a purposeful director, and your appreciation for this one will grow even further after hearing him speak at length. 
• Deleted Scenes: Three unused scenes totaling six minutes are provided here that didn’t make the final cut but are well worth exploring. 

• Nosferatu – A Modern Masterpiece: A 41-minute documentary that explores the creation of the film from the origins to the characters and the craftsmanship and beyond. 

• • Breathing Life Into A Dream (9:26) 

• • Becoming Count Orlok (6:12) 

• • Capturing The Mood (5:19) 

• • Recreating 1838 (6:29) 

• • Dressing The Part (5:55) 

• • The End Is Just The Beginning (7:18) 

Final Thoughts

Nosferatu finds Robert Eggers coming the closest to playing friendly with mainstream sensibilities, yet there is never any doubt that you are watching the product of his distinct directorial vision. The attention paid to bringing this world to life is so impressive that he has to be considered one of the most visionary directors of his generation. He has brought together a dynamite cast filled with performances that are not to be missed, especially the committed Lily-Rose Depp. It is so invigorating to find new things to appreciate in a text this old. This is one of the best films of 2024. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray which features a 5-star A/V presentation and a solid assortment of special features. Recommended 

Nosferatu will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD on February 18, 2025. The film is currently available on Digital. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.