Nosferatu, quick question for those whove seen it

[. Rarity .]

So, I wanted to see this movie. But well, I was reading something online about it

I just wanted to ask. Is it really implying that Epilepsy/seizures, are something else, or a form of evil?

You can DM me, or just give me an answer here. I'm epileptic, so I wanna know. I only trust Redit so much, so I'd rather ask am online community I love and trust.

Thanks

 

[-Mars-]

Hello, I'm sorry for asking a probably obvious question, I'm assuming it would be most likely you wanted to see the 2024 version but just in case which version of the movie did you want to see? I can either watch Nosferatu (1922) or Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) or Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (2023) to check and make sure whether or not they have seizure-inducing imagery but I do not have access to stream the 2024 version so I can't check that one for you.

I'm sorry if I did not understand what you were asking but if there's anything you wanted to know about those movies I can help check them out but if it's related to the 2024 version there's nothing I can do.

 

[. Rarity .]

Hello, I'm sorry for asking a probably obvious question, I'm assuming it would be most likely you wanted to see the 2024 version but just in case which version of the movie did you want to see? I can either watch Nosferatu (1922) or Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) or Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (2023) to check and make sure whether or not they have seizure-inducing imagery but I do not have access to stream the 2024 version so I can't check that one for you.

I'm sorry if I did not understand what you were asking but if there's anything you wanted to know about those movies I can help check them out but if it's related to the 2024 version there's nothing I can do.

Im actually kinda curious if it applies to allow them, I was thinking about the 2024.

 

[-Mars-]

Im actually kinda curious if it applies to allow them, I was thinking about the 2024.

I apologize for my ignorance, I did not understand what you intended to say at first but then I googled it and I see now, the movie has a character that experiences seizures as part of the story, I can now see how this depiction of seizures in movies and this sort of "trope" of seizures being connected to "evil" "demonic possession" and a "mental illness" can be harmful and stigmatizing to people living with Epilepsy and other seizure-related medical conditions.

I do not know for 100% certain if the 2024 version has these depictions but Reddit seems to imply it does but I'm aware you said you don't trust or like Reddit.

 

[. Rarity .]

I apologize for my ignorance, I did not understand what you intended to say at first but then I googled it and I see now, the movie has a character that experiences seizures as part of the story, I can now see how this depiction of seizures in movies and this sort of "trope" of seizures being connected to "evil" "demonic possession" and a "mental illness" can be harmful and stigmatizing to people living with Epilepsy and other seizure-related medical conditions.

I do not know for 100% certain if the 2024 version has these depictions but Reddit seems to imply it does but I'm aware you said you don't trust or like Reddit.

Don't appologoze your fine. I was a little confusing because I didnt want to say other parts. But yeah, it would be kinda hard for me to watch.

I sjspose it's the time frame the movie takes place in, but if that really is in the movie idk about seeing it anymore Shame. I was really looking forward to it. But i really wanna watch something spooky in general.

 

[SkyKnight03]

I saw Nosferatu with my brother who suffers from seizures.

We thought it was pretty blatant that the seizures were caused by Orlok's possession. I don't see how there would be any implication that the seizures being seen as a form of evil unless a person is just not paying any attention to the plot revolving around the spooky mythical vampire. It does use the body replicating a seizure to display possession, but it does not feed the viewer that these attacks are caused by her being epileptic.

Could the film industry start using a different way to show possession? Probably.

I did think the movie was pretty...intense. Even though Orlok was not physically in the room, the women are being raped during the possession scenes by the invisible Orlok.

I can tolerate roller coasters. This movie was like being on a ride that I expected to be tame and it ends up being pretty intense. It's still 'okay' with me, but I wasn't prepared for what I was going into.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

I haven't seen Nosferatu, however seizures seem to be a very popular trope in horror and sci-fi horror (maybe even straight up sci-fi). Seizures seem to be used in horror as though it's a physical reaction to supernatural happenings -- I personally have never gotten the feeling as if writers are trying to say that epilepsy/seizures are a form of evil itself.

There's this new show I have gotten into called FROM (basically LOST but horror, and better), and four different characters have seizures at different times throughout the show.. at one point a character asks if seizures are a physical reaction to the evil place that they're all in.

So yeah while I haven't seen the movie, I would bet it's supposed to be some sort of physical reaction to Orlok, especially considering vampires used to be thought as bringers of plague and misfortune rather than handsome pale men who sparkle in the sun

 

[Chris]

I've seen the film. It is set in the 1830s, so the way it depicts seizures aligns with common misconceptions about them at the time. It causes no misunderstanding for the modern viewer.

 

[michealsmells]

Chris, Sky, and Milly all are correct. As someone who has also seen the movie, seizures are NOT depicted as evil. The character who is having them is NOT evil. The triggering aspect can come into play with how others treat her, and what Orlok's possession entails (as Sky also said), as due to the film's setting, there are plenty of misconceptions about what her condition is about and why.
However as a viewer, watching through a modern lens, it is not treated like that what-so-ever. We know why the seizures are happening (which is not due to epilepsy) and even then, (spoilered for very very light spoilers, its clear very early in the movie) in the film, they're less treated as a sign of evil and more of the character being ill- for at least most of the film, because nobody believes women lmao.

 

[. Rarity .]

I knew asking you guys, would be better then reddit. They pretty much straight up said part of the movie, was mocking epilepsy about being a demon's curse. But I'll consider seeing it now, thank you for the input ♡

 

[Rainbowhorn]

Late to answer but here it goes, I don't think it's implying that all cases of epilepsy or seizures are cause by evil forces, just like in this case Nosferatu uses his evil influence to torture other characters that way in specific, in fact some characters don't believe in the paranormal and just treat these people like poor sick patients (which was not very good at the time but that's the point, still I think that they treated them way better than in other media depicting that kind of stuff, you get the feeling that now we know it's wrong but they do actually want to help them). It's not a movie for everyone since it's a bit raw, but as some people have said before they are not portraied as bad, or some kind of divine just punishment for something they did wrong, or that they're evil themselves BECAUSE of them.

I loved the movie btw if you can stomach gothic horror or the director's previous works I do recommend it