John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe are two of today's greatest character actors. Between the two of them, they have created a gallery of oddball and psychotic characters that is greater than anyone's save perhaps Christopher Walken. In Shadow of the Vampire, they each create another of these characters that they play so well. Each creating a masterfully, over the top, and definitely odd, character.
The movie tells the story of the filming of the original vampire film, Nosferatu. Only in this version of the telling, the actor (Willem Dafoe) playing the vampire, really is a vampire. Only the director, German filmmaker F.W. Murnau (John Malkovich), knows the truth. He simply tells the rest of the cast and crew that Max Schreck will be playing the vampire, and he is a method actor and will therefore never appear out of character or makeup. Something the cast and crew go along with, even though they are dubious of the new actor, until certain members of the crew turn up missing. As the filming continues, the real reason for the vampire's participation becomes clear, and both the movie being made and the movie you are watching build toward their final shot and the inevitable showdown between inhuman monster and its cinematic creator.
Humor and atmosphere are combined for good effect. British comedian Eddie Izzard has a few amusing scenes as the German actor who first meets the vampire and must react accordingly in front of the cameras. And the scenes leading to the vampire's first appearance build up suspense and atmosphere.
The true star and scene-stealer of this movie is of course Willem Dafoe. Nearly unrecognizable underneath the makeup, he turns in an incredible performance as the vampire that is so old; he can no longer remember where or when he was born. He is in turns, intimidating, frightening, humorous, pitiful, and sympathetic. This is a role, pardon me, that he really sinks his teeth into.
Malkovich plays, yet another over the top character. This time, the artiste, film director who is willing to make a deal with a vampire to create art. He's good in the role, but by now, we know that Malkovich can play over the top, in his sleep.
My only real problem with this otherwise enjoyable film, is the ending. I like the point that they make. Who is the greater monster, the vampire or the obsessed filmmaker? But, for such an original film, the ending seems a little too predictable and pat, an almost typical horror movie ending. Which is sad, because up until then, the movie is fast paced, amusing, and frightening, all at the same time. Still, in this cookie cutter movie world, it's nice to see the occasional movie that doesn't quite fit into a specific genre or can't easily be classified.
