Willem Dafoe is amazing in this film -- he completely pulls off being creepy and doe-eyed at the same time. John Malkovich, too, builds a dichotomy in a character who is both sadistic and martyr-like. I'm embarrassed to say that I've never seen "Nosferatu" in full, but from what I know, "Shadow" is near flawless in representing the German expressionist style. The over exaggerated acting in the moviemaking scenes provide for some good chuckles, as do many of the natural moments of Max Schreck (Dafoe). 

      Watching this movie is like reading a work of literature. Somehow, it comes off as if an intimate narrator is telling the viewer exactly what is going on in each character's mind at each moment. The characters may not be as fully developed as is absolutely possible, but they are certainly interesting.

      Although it is uncomfortable to think about, this film is fun to sink into.

     -- Liz ( 3 1/2 out of 4 pops )

Talk about this film with other Popkorn Junkies

      Pappy ( 3 out out 4 pops )

      I did not like Malkovich very much in this film.  Though he was not one of the living dead, he was too much of a stiff for me.  It is really a pretty simple film, based on a single “joke” (the actor was really a vampire), it is somewhat confusing in part, but yet I liked it.  I liked it so much I ordered and totally enjoyed the DVD of the original "Nosferatu".

      James ( 4 out of 4 pops )

      I liked this movie so much that I went out to BlockBuster Video to rent "Nosferatu", which I also liked.  Willem Dafoe did a marvelous job portraying Max Schreck, the supposedly real vamp.  Since I don't really know much about F.W. Murnau, it's hard to say whether John Malkovich portrayed him well, but he did look like a director.  The best line is the last, said by Malkovich, "and I think we have it".