Does Nosferatu have a post-credit scene? Explained
Robert Eggers gothic horror film, Nosferatu hit the theaters on December 25, 2024. The movie is based on F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent horror classic of the same name and was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The film follows Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult), a real estate agent who travels to Transylvania to assist a client called Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) with purchasing a new home. As Orlok's past connection with Hutter’s wife Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) resurfaces, the couple's lives spiral into a series of terror.
Nosferatu solidifies the gothic roots of the original film and explores themes of obsession, death, and sexuality. Since its premiere, fans have been wondering whether this dream project of Robert Eggers has an end-credits scene or not. It is confirmed that the film ends with a conclusive finish and does not have a post-credits scene.
Disclaimer: The article ahead contains spoilers for Nosferatu.
Why is there no post-credits scene in Nosferatu?
A post-credits scene is a short clip shown after a movie's main credits have finished rolling. These scenes often feature future teasers, provide additional story details, or add comedic moments. It has become a common practice in cinema lately and some viewers stay through the credits to see if a movie includes such a scene.
Nosferatu is a self-contained, artistic film with a terrifying yet conclusive ending. After several attempts to stop Orlok, in the end, it is revealed that Ellen must willingly give herself to him. She sacrifices herself to end Orlok's plague and save her city. Therefore, the movie does not include a post-credits scene, as the narrative is tragic, yet complete.
Furthermore, as stated above, the movie is based on F. W. Murnau's Nosferatu, and the storyline of the 1922 movie is entirely encapsulated in the modern adaptation, leaving no room for a sequel. Director Robert Eggers is also known for crafting standalone works like The Witch and The Lighthouse, that align with the horror genre's traditional approach.
What is Nosferatu about?
The logline of the movie reads,
"Robert Eggers’ NOSFERATU is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake."
The story is set in the 1800s and starts with Thomas Hutter going to Transylvania to assist the mysterious Count Orlok in acquiring property. Orlok is revealed to be a vampire who has a past connection with Ellen, as shown in the first scene.
His obsession leads to Ellen's battle with death and despair and her self-sacrifice ultimately defeats Orlok and ends the plague he brings. The plot relies on psychological and erotic undertones.
In an interview with ScreenRant published December 19, 2024, Eggers talked about his inspiration for the film, saying,
"Something that I really loved about the Murnau film is that it ends with the female protagonist being the heroine. I thought that it would be potentially more exciting if the whole film is told through her eyes, because it had the potential to be more emotionally and psychologically complex than an adventure story about a real estate agent."
He continued,
"As much as it is a scary horror movie - and it is, there's even jump scares - it is a gothic romance, and it's a tale of love and a tale of obsession.Through her eyes, I think we can really get into that mode more without it becoming the tragic anti-hero story of a lovelorn vampire, which I'm also less interested in."
Nosferatu is now available in theatres.
