Robert Eggers’ 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.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Nosferatu (2024), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
The film begins with a haunting scene featuring a young woman named Ellen, who is portrayed by Lily-Rose Depp. She calls out for companionship, only to be met by a mysterious, ghastly voice revealing that she has awoken an entity from its eternal slumber. This unsettling presence remains unseen, merely reveal itself through a shadowy silhouette moving behind Ellen’s curtains, as it presses her to pledge her loyalty to him. With a sense of eerie acceptance, she agrees, but soon thereafter is struck by a violent seizure.
Fast forward to Germany, 1838, where Ellen now finds herself married to the charming real estate agent Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult). They reside in the bustling town of Wisborg, deeply in love and seemingly in a blissful state. As Thomas embarks on a new professional chapter working for Herr Knock (Simon McBurney), he’s entrusted with the daunting task of selling off a decrepit castle once owned by the enigmatic Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard). However, when Thomas shares his travel plans with Ellen, a wave of dread washes over her, as she recounts a chilling dream she had on their wedding night—one where all their guests succumbed to death, leaving her with Death itself as a groom. Strangely, she describes this experience as one that brought her an intense feeling of joy.
With a heavy heart, Thomas leaves Ellen under the care of their close friends, Friedrich Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his wife Anna (Emma Corrin), who are expecting their third child soon while caring for their daughters, Clara and Louise. As Thomas ventures to a quaint village in Bohemia, the wary locals, recognizing his business intention regarding the Count, attempt to shun him. But their money talks, and he’s granted permission to stay the night. Later that evening, a bizarre scene unfolds as Thomas witnesses villagers leading a nude woman into the woods to a sarcophagus where they stake a creature. Puzzled, he continues on his journey alone until a carriage arrives to take him up the mountains to the castle.
Upon arrival, he meets Count Orlok, an ominous figure who cloaks himself in shadows. Thomas is instructed to refer to him as “my lord” as they discuss the sale of the castle. A moment of tension arises as Thomas accidentally cuts his thumb, causing Orlok to sense the blood and feast upon it. Upon seeing a locket containing Ellen’s image, Orlok recognizes her as the woman who pledged her loyalty long before. Manipulating the situation, Orlok inhibits Thomas from leaving, preying upon his weakened state and draining his life force. When Thomas eventually discovers Orlok resting in his sarcophagus, the truth comes crashing down; he has unwittingly entangled himself with a vampire. An intense confrontation ensues where Thomas attempts to confront Orlok with a pickaxe, but narrowly escapes after plunging from a window into the river below.
Meanwhile, back in Wisborg, the absence of Thomas takes a toll on Ellen, leading to a resurgence of her seizures. Concern mounts as she grows increasingly distressed, prompting Dr. Wilhelm Sievers (Ralph Ineson) to be summoned, who attributes her condition to an excess of blood. As Thomas recuperates and races back home, he is alarmed by the thought of Orlok targeting Ellen.
In a quest for understanding, Sievers seeks guidance from his mentor, Dr. Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Willem Dafoe), a specialist in the occult. Together, they visit a mad Herr Knock, who frantically warns them about Orlok’s impending arrival. Determined to save Ellen, Von Franz visits her and learns that since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of Orlok. She grapples with the dark question of whether true evil originates from within or beyond.
In a sinister twist, Orlok smuggles himself aboard a ship, hidden within dirt-filled crates alongside plague-infested rats. After a gruesome rampage onboard, he emerges upon crashing into Wisborg harbor, leaving a trail of terror in his wake. Thomas reaches home only to find Orlok using Ellen’s voice to torment him, all while plotting to reclaim her willingly—a desperate attempt to further his dark designs.
The stakes escalate as Orlok ensnares Ellen in his web of nightmares, demanding she renounce her marriage to Thomas or witness the destruction of all she holds dear. When Ellen awakens from a nightmarish dream, she is horrified to find Anna surrounded by rats, heralding the spread of plague throughout Wisborg.
Continuing his manipulation, Orlok attempts to sever the bond between Ellen and Thomas, provoking her into a fierce act of defiance against the Count. Though Ellen’s struggle intensifies, the horror claiming her friends escalates as Anna and her daughters fall victim to Orlok’s monstrous cravings, while Friedrich, devastated by loss, succumbs to the disease in a tragic end.
Desperately seeking a resolution, Ellen and Von Franz realize that the key to defeating Orlok lies within her own willingness to sacrifice herself. They lure Thomas into a hunt under false pretenses, leading him to confront what they believe to be the vampire. Yet in a cruel twist, they instead find Knock, who laments Orlok’s unyielding obsession with Ellen. Meanwhile, Von Franz sets the mansion ablaze, launching a desperate race against time for Thomas to return to his beloved.
In the climactic scene, as Ellen confronts her dark fate, she willingly submits to Orlok. He feasts upon her blood and their final moments entwined become a poignant elegy, a bittersweet culmination of their tragic love. A powerful exchange unfolds as Ellen’s ploy ensnares Orlok, leading to his ultimate demise. However, this victory is bittersweet, for as he withers away, so does Ellen, claiming her life in a legendary sacrifice. Thomas arrives just in time to cradle her in his arms, his grief consuming him as he watches her fade away.
Through Ellen’s ultimate act of love and bravery, the curse of Nosferatu is lifted, ensuring the safety of Wisborg and freeing the town from the malevolence that once threatened to consume it. Von Franz solemnly remarks on the sacrifice that saved them all, echoing the profound truth that love can conquer even the darkest of evils.
Last Updated: December 31, 2024 at 18:09
Still wondering what the ending of Nosferatu (2024) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
When Nosferatu finally reaches Wisburg, he brings with him a deadly plague that causes widespread death, symbolizing the destructive power and devastation he embodies. Ellen, despite her love for Thomas, refuses to succumb to Nosferatu, and in order to save her husband and stop the curse he’s unleashed, she chooses to confront the vampire alone. Her plan is risky—she invites Nosferatu into her home and ultimately agrees to be his lover, knowing that this act will distract him long enough for the sun to rise. As daylight breaks, the sunlight destroys Nosferatu, ending his curse and reign of terror. Tragically, Ellen sacrifices herself in the process, dying alongside the vampire she once sought to save her loved ones from. Her death marks her ultimate act of love and sacrifice, preventing further suffering and bringing an end to the vampire’s deadly influence.
Throughout the film, the flowers that Thomas often gave Ellen appear scattered over her body at the end, symbolizing her lingering love and the delicate bond they shared. These flowers also foreshadow her death, representing both her innocence and the fragility of life, as Ellen predicted her own demise. Her sacrifice reflects a tragic yet noble act—accepting evil to stop its spread and protect others, embodying the themes of love, death, and selflessness intertwined in the story. Ultimately, her death signifies the cost of confronting darkness and the hope that love, even in the face of evil, can bring an end to suffering.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:03
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