F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent classic NOSFERATU is the original vampire film and the inspirational subject of this highly enjoyable satire on filmmaking and the unholy power of cinema. Merhige’s thought provoking comedy suggests that NOSFERATU actor Max Schreck’s history is a mystery because Murnau hired a real member of the undead to bring the part to life. SHADOW fondly recreates the location filming of NOSFERATU where the unsuspecting cast and crew attempt to relate to the weird looking ‘method actor’ (Dafoe) who will only appear in character and shoot at night. Meanwhile, the obsessed director (Malkovich) tries to keep his star in line and off the jugulars of his fellow filmmakers. The visually creative SHADOW cleverly juxtaposes exquisitely recreated scenes with clips from the original and mixes cine-jokes with melancholic moments. Add the witty script and inspired performances from a perfectly selected cast for a real treat.