Nosferatu

The film begins with Ellen, a young woman, calling out for companionship. Her plea awakens a mysterious entity, who responds with a low, inhuman voice, indicating that she has disturbed his eternal slumber.

The unseen entity asks Ellen if she will pledge herself to him, and she agrees. Immediately after her pledge, Ellen begins to seize up, showcasing a connection to the dark force she has awakened.

Years later, in 1838 Germany, Ellen is now married to Thomas Hutter, a real estate agent. The couple lives in the town of Wisborg, deeply in love, as Thomas prepares for a job selling a mysterious castle owned by Count Orlok.

Before Thomas leaves for his trip, Ellen shares a troubling dream she had on their wedding night. In her dream, all the wedding guests had died, and she was confronted by Death, yet she felt inexplicably happy.

Thomas departs for Bohemia, where he is initially shunned by villagers upon revealing his business with Count Orlok. Eventually granted shelter, Thomas witnesses bizarre rituals involving a nude woman and a sarcophagus in the woods.

At the castle, Thomas meets Count Orlok, who exists primarily in darkness. During their meeting, Orlok becomes aware of Ellen through Thomas's locket and subsequently traps Thomas, feeding on him in his weakened state.

While Thomas is away, Ellen starts experiencing seizures again and becomes bedridden, distressed by her husband's absence. Dr. Wilhelm Sievers is summoned to treat her, suspecting she suffers from an excess of blood.

Count Orlok arrives in Wisborg, having stowed away on a ship filled with his native dirt and plague rats. As he breaks free, he begins to slaughter the crew, ultimately crashing into Wisborg’s harbor.

Orlok begins to manipulate Ellen's mind, visiting her in her sleep and demanding she divorce Thomas. Terrified, Ellen experiences a horrific scene with rats and the threat of death hanging over her loved ones.

In a bold act of defiance, Ellen engages with Orlok sexually, trying to reclaim her agency. However, tragedy ensues as Orlok murders Anna and her children, deepening the horror surrounding Ellen.

Ellen and her allies realize the only way to stop Orlok is for her to sacrifice herself willingly. They prepare to find Orlok, hoping to confront him before he can claim Ellen again.

In a climactic moment, the group confronts Orlok in his manor but inadvertently impale Knock instead. Meanwhile, Orlok is racing against time to reclaim Ellen before their dire fate unfolds.

In a moment of desperate resolve, Ellen willingly re-pledges herself to Orlok. He takes her as his blood servant, but she manipulates the moment to trap him, leading to his demise.

Orlok, realizing he has been tricked, screams in agony as he dies alongside Ellen. Thomas rushes back, only to find Ellen has passed away, leaving him heartbroken and filled with despair.

Von Franz concludes the tale by stating that Ellen's sacrifice has spared Wisborg from Orlok's curse. Her selfless act saves the town, even as it claims her own life.