On 4 March 1922, the world witnessed the dawn of horror cinema as Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror premiered at the Berlin Zoological Garden in Germany.
It was an unauthorised yet masterful adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Directed by FW Murnau, this silent film reimagined the vampire legend with the ghastly Count Orlok, played by Max Schreck, whose grotesque, rat-like visage and eerie, shadowy presence would etch themselves into the annals of cinematic history.
Though plagued by legal disputes with Stoker’s estate—leading to an order for all copies to be destroyed—the film survived and ultimately became a cornerstone of the horror genre, influencing generations of filmmakers with its chilling atmosphere, expressionist visuals, and haunting score.
