Shadow of the Vampire

Bram Stoker's widow firmly refuses to sell the film rights of *Dracula* to F.W. Murnau. Undeterred, Murnau decides to proceed with his film project, creatively transforming it into *Nosferatu*.

Murnau makes significant changes to the story, altering character names and settings to evade legal issues. Count Dracula is transformed into Count Orlock, and the locations shift from Transylvania and England to Germany.

Production for *Nosferatu* begins on a soundstage in Berlin. Murnau is eager to take the cast and crew to Czechoslovakia to work with the unique Max Schreck, who is cast as the vampire.

Murnau introduces Max Schreck as a prominent character actor. However, the producer Albin Grau and the crew are kept unaware of Schreck's true vampiric nature, leading to an unsettling atmosphere.

As a vampire with diminished powers, Schreck struggles to recall his human past and survives in isolation within an abandoned abbey. He finds a parallel in Dracula's tragic story, which resonates with his current despair.

Stricken by despair, Schreck obsesses over Goethe's poem about Tithonus, a character who desired immortality without eternal youth. This reflects Schreck's torment as he grapples with his current state of powerlessness.

Despite Murnau's warnings, Schreck struggles with his thirst for blood, draining the energy of a photographer during a pivotal scene. Murnau must remind him that the film's continuity depends on maintaining the crew's safety.

As filming progresses, paranoia sets in among the cast and crew regarding Schreck's true nature. They start locking their doors at night, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease.

In a moment of bravery, Albin and Fritz search for Schreck's coffin, only to find nothing. Their investigation leads to alarming revelations about Murnau's discovery of Schreck and his unsettling origins.

Murnau confesses to making a gruesome agreement: he traded Greta's life for Schreck's performance in the film. Faced with horror, Albin and Fritz decide to continue filming the final scenes.

To capture the climax, Murnau transforms an old warehouse into a makeshift set for the bedroom scene. Tension rises as Greta awaits the moment when Orlock can finally claim her.

As filming progresses, Greta catches sight of Schreck in the mirror and realizes he casts no reflection. This revelation induces panic, prompting Murnau to sedate her to keep the scene on track.

In a frenzied moment, Schreck exclaims his desire for Greta, struggling against Murnau's demands. However, he manages to stay focused on filming, reflecting his inner turmoil and desperation.

As day breaks and sunlight floods the room, Schreck reacts violently to the intrusion. Attempts to control him fail catastrophically, resulting in chaos and tragic consequences for the crew.

In a dramatic twist, as sunlight ensnares Schreck, Murnau successfully films Orlock's demise. A satisfied Murnau watches the footage, concluding a haunting production with a smirk.