A century has passed since the birth of Nosferatu (1922), and as we stand in the shadows of this haunting milestone, we find ourselves reflecting upon the metamorphosis of cinema – a peculiar process that I propose is a devolution, rather than an evolution. The 1920s was an era of cinematic innocence when the moving image was a force unto itself, eloquently conveying stories and emotions with an otherworldly, hypnotic majesty.

Throughout the vast expanse of human history, the image has been our ultimate storyteller, transcending time and culture. It has spoken to us through the ancient inscriptions of Hammurabi, the hieroglyphs of Egypt, and the enduring masterpieces of the Renaissance. However, as the curtains closed on the 1920s, so too did the silent era of cinema. The arrival of sound and dialogue initiated an insidious transformation – a vampiric assault on the lifeblood of the moving image.

In my eyes, the true vampire of cinema is the very sound and dialogue that has drained the image of its profound, hypnotic power. Nosferatu, then, serves as a dark harbinger of the changes to come. These ruminations laid the foundation for my film, Shadow of the Vampire (2000), a lamentation of the silenced image and its lost power to evoke the unconscious and the contemplative.

Over time, dialogue has relegated the moving image to a lowly servant of rational thought, robbing it of its enigmatic essence. Gary Rhodes's book revisits the haunting world of Nosferatu, celebrating the uncanny dread and beauty that still echoes through its images. In doing so, it draws us back to the primordial allure of the vampire, an ancient symbol embodying the cyclical, devouring nature of life itself.

The vampire, in all its seductive and horrifying forms, has ensnared our collective imagination like no other mythic creature. It serves as a vessel to explore our deepest desires, fears, and moral quandaries. In this book, we delve into the murky depths of the vampire's cinematic history, shedding light on the cultural significance and undying allure of these enigmatic beings. Embrace the darkness and join us on this exploration of the vampire's eternal grip on the silver screen, as we rediscover the evocative power of the moving image that once held us in a state of mesmerized wonder.