Robert Eggers got his first inspiration for the current hit movie “Nosferatu” as a child attending Mast Way Elementary School in Lee, New Hampshire.

The school is where Eggers, now 41, first saw an image of Max Schrek as Count Orlok from F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” on a book cover. This sparked his love of the horror genre.

“I thought it was like the coolest thing ever. With the help of my mom, and this is before the time of Amazon and YouTube, we went to the Fox Run Mall, which had the closest video store to Lee, and we had to order a VHS, which came in the mail about a month later,” Eggers said. “And that VHS was really inspiring.”

Eggers, writer and director of “Nosferatu,” the film starring Bill Skarsgard and Lily-Rose Depp has been 10 years in the making. There were three previous attempts to film and produce it before they pulled it off, he said.

Filming began in 2015 but was called off for a number of reasons, Eggers said. He had just finished post-production of “The Northman,” and needed a break. He said he’s glad “Nosferatu” came out when it did, released on Christmas Day in U.S. theaters last month, as he’s evolved over the years as a filmmaker and person.

“(It’s) become a collective vision” over the years, he said, and “we’ve done a better job of articulating what’s in our imagination and getting in onto the screen.”

Eggers attributes success to Seacoast

Eggers attributes much of his success as a filmmaker to mentors dung his time growing up in New Hampshire’s Seacoast region. Eggers attended Oyster River schools in Durham, naturally stepping into acting as his mom, Kelly, a dancer and actress, started the Oyster River Players theater company.

During his senior year of high school, Eggers co-directed a play version of “Nosferatu” with his friend, Ashley Kelley Tata, who is now a theater and opera director in New York. He had done some acting at the old Edwin Booth Theater in Dover and had invited founder Edward Langlois to the high school production. After Langlois had seen the play, he invited them to create a more professional version of “Nosferatu” at the Edwin Booth Theater.

“(It) was very thrilling, and it cemented the fact that I wanted to be a director, and also made ‘Nosferatu’ permanently, like a big part of who I am. New Hampshire roots are large for me, for sure,” said Eggers.

Eggers also credits inspiration he received from the late Hyman Bloom, a painter from Nashua. He said as of this week he had put one of Bloom’s drawings in his “look book” for a future film project. He did not specify what the film is, but Eggers said he would like to expand beyond the horror genre. He noted “The Northman” was not a horror movie, but to tell complex, personal stories, he has often used the horror genre.

“Nosferatu” in 2024 compared to 1922

Eggers’ version of “Nosferatu” is similar to the overall plot of the original 1922 Nosferatu, but with some minor tweaks, he said. Set in the 1830s, the plot follows newlywed couple Ellen and Thomas Hutter, Thomas, played by Nicholas Hoult, and Ellen played by Depp, as Thomas journeys to the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania by request of his employer to sell a new client real estate. The new client is ominous Count Orlok, played by Skarsgård, who traps Thomas in his castle and proceeds to suck his blood.

A tweak from the original while preserving the history of the film but making it more visually appealing with modern cinematography is the journey of the ship bringing the plague to Wisburg, Germany, where the film is set. The original screenplay by Henrik Galeen, depicts a “dead schooner” slowly and creepily coming into Wisburg, said Eggers. “But when I read Henrik Galeen’s screenplay, he envisioned a very chaotic storm that would bring the ship into town in a more, climactic, operatic way. Because of modern technologies and budgets, we were able to do that. It was cool to actualize the screenwriter’s original intent.”

An obvious change is Eggers’ “Nosferatu” has dialogue, while F.W. Murnau’s original version was a silent film. Count Orlok is disguised to be a Transylvanian nobleman, and instead of speaking Hungarian, he speaks Dacian, “a very ancient language of the region,” said Eggers. The Dacians were ancestors of the ethnic Romanians, said Eggers, and since Orlok is casting spells and “studying ancient magic,” it was only fitting that he spoke an ancient language, Eggers said.

Referring to how the movie ends, Eggers said, “I think that’s for each and every audience member to decide for themselves. But was it a sacrifice? You know, yes, but is there also some fulfillment there? As dark and twisted as it may be, like yes. Is it also revenge? I think there’s intended to be a lot going on. So, whatever speaks to you works for me.”

Eggers previously wrote and directed “The Lighthouse” with his brother Max, which was nominated for an Oscar in for the Best Achievement in Cinematography in the 92nd Academy Awards 2020. Released in 2015, Eggers also directed and wrote the horror film “The Witch: A New-England Folktale.” Oscar nominations this year will be announced Jan. 23.

Previous reporting by Jane Murphy was used in this report.

As Mayor of Lowell, Massachusetts, I find it deeply disappointing that Governor Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire chose to single out Lowell and Lawrence in her recent tweet about drug trafficking. Rather than fostering the collaboration and shared responsibility necessary to address regional challenges, the governor has instead opted to unfairly target our communities while turning a blind eye to her state’s own issues. Let’s be clear: drug trafficking is a national and regional problem, not one confined to specific cities or states, and no community is immune. New Hampshire, it’s time to look in the mirror.

Lowell is a city that has long been a beacon of innovation, resilience, and progress. We are home to world-class universities like UMass Lowell, a thriving arts and cultural scene, cutting-edge technology companies, and a diverse and hardworking community. Our schools are preparing the next generation of leaders, and our local businesses are driving economic growth. From our revitalized downtown to our nationally recognized parks and waterways, Lowell has been steadily building a bright future for all its residents. To suggest that our city is defined by the actions of a few bad actors is both ignorant and disrespectful.

Furthermore, let me take a moment to recognize the incredible progress and vitality of our neighbors in Lawrence. The City of Lawrence is rich in culture, history, and community spirit. Its residents have demonstrated remarkable strength and innovation, contributing meaningfully to the Merrimack Valley and beyond. The truth is, both Lowell and Lawrence are communities full of promise, and they deserve to be uplifted, not disparaged.

What’s even more troubling about Governor Ayotte’s remarks is the glaring omission of accountability for New Hampshire’s own challenges. It is no secret that Manchester has become a hub for drug activity, drawing individuals from Vermont, northern New Hampshire, and even parts of Maine. Pointing fingers at other cities without acknowledging the trafficking issues in your own backyard is not only hypocritical but counterproductive.

Rather than casting blame, we should be working together across state lines to combat the opioid crisis and support those who need help. Regional collaboration, shared resources, and compassionate policies are the only ways we can truly address this crisis. Scapegoating neighboring cities like Lowell and Lawrence does nothing to move us forward.

Lowell’s success is built on community, collaboration, and a commitment to progress. We will not allow one misguided comment to tarnish our reputation or detract from the incredible work being done here. I invite Governor Ayotte to visit Lowell and see firsthand the innovation, diversity, and vibrancy of our city. Perhaps then she will understand that we are not a problem to be feared but a partner to be embraced.

In the meantime, I encourage New Hampshire to focus on its own challenges and work with its neighbors to find real solutions. Divisive rhetoric will not solve the opioid crisis—only unity and collaboration will.

This editorial is in response to the following tweet from Governor Kelly Ayotte: “It’s time for drug dealers from Lowell and Lawrence to be afraid of trafficking their poison into our state. New Hampshire law enforcement will find you, stop you, and lock you up.”

The National Weather Service issued alerts and updates at just past 10 a.m., just before 2 p.m., and again after 3 p.m. on Saturday, posting a storm watch for Sunday through Monday morning. Forecasters said heavy snow was possible, with total accumulations greater than 6 inches.

“Periods of moderate and heavy snow will combine with low visibility to create dangerous driving conditions,” an afternoon alert stated. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.”

The watch is in effect from 4 p.m. on Sunday to 7 a.m. on Monday.

“Even light snowfall amounts can accumulate on roads and cause dangerous driving conditions due to snow-covered roads,” the morning alert stated. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.”

Forecasters also warned in the afternoon of some roadway icing on Saturday night as wet roadways freeze.

The storm will start around 4 p.m. on Sunday in Concord and the capital region. It will bring as much as 2 inches of snow. Snow will continue overnight, with temps in the single digits and gusts as high as 20 mph. Another 3 to 7 inches of snow is expected in Concord overnight.

In Nashua, Hillsborough County, and inland Rockingham County, about an inch is expected on Sunday between 2 and 5 p.m. and then another 4 to 8 inches overnight. Temperatures will be in the 20s with gusts around 20 mph.

Similar snow accumulation is expected on the Seacoast.

Forecasters at AccuWeather.com are calling for slightly higher accumulations, between 6 and 12 inches, for southern and central New Hampshire.

The sun returns on Monday, but it will be cold — in the teens with gusts as high as 25 mph.

The most up-to-date weather is available on every Patch.com site in the United States. This includes the 14 New Hampshire Patch news and community websites for Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Exeter, Hampton, Londonderry, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Salem, Windham, and Across NH. Patch posts local weather reports for New Hampshire every Sunday and Wednesday and publishes alerts as needed.