Did Lily-Rose Depp’s possession scenes in Nosferatu use CGI? Details explored

Nosferatu is an American gothic horror film that was released on December 25, 2024. As a reimagination of the 1922 silent classic, director Robert Eggers insisted on a realistic approach, emphasizing physical performance over digital effects.

In Nosferatu, a German estate agent named Thomas Hutter travels to Transylvania to sell a castle to the reclusive Count Orlok, unknowingly entering a pact between Orlok and his employer, Herr Knock.

Orlok is revealed to be a vampire who attacks Thomas and begins to pursue his wife, Ellen, in Wisborg. As the town is plagued by his presence, Ellen sacrifices herself to Orlok, allowing him to die with the dawn.

The question of whether Lily-Rose Depp’s possession scenes in Nosferatu used CGI has intrigued audiences. The answer is no. Depp's portrayal, which was intense and physical, relied solely on her acting skills.

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All about Lily-Rose Depp's possession scenes in Nosferatu

Lily-Rose Depp’s portrayal of Ellen Hutter is one of the most talked-about aspects of Nosferatu. The narrative is significantly influenced by her possession scenes, which illustrate a conflict between her will and the malevolent influence of Count Orlok. These moments are imbued with an intense, grounded quality due to Eggers' decision to forgo CGI.

Ellen's first encounter with darkness

The film opens with a young Ellen praying for companionship, an act that unwittingly summons a dark entity—Count Orlok. This moment sets the stage for her possession.

Her seizures, marked by violent convulsions and eerie stillness, were achieved through Depp's physical commitment. She worked extensively with movement coaches to master the unsettling gestures and expressions required for her role.

The role of Japanese Butoh in performance

To depict authenticity in Ellen's possession, Depp drew inspiration from Japanese butoh. Butoh is a performance art that emphasizes disconnection from physical form.

She embodied Ellen's struggle through this technique, portraying her as a fighter and a victim. It was the unsettling movements and contorted expressions that provided depth to her portrayal.

A haunting transformation

As the narrative progresses, Ellen's possession intensifies, resulting in frightful visions and physical transformations. The scenes in which she sleepwalks through Wisborg or collapses into seizures are raw and chilling.

Both critics and her co-stars have praised Depp for her commitment to these challenging sequences. Nicholas Hoult, who portrays her husband Thomas, described her performance as "astonishing in every detail."

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Everything to know about Nosferatu

Count Orlok, a vampire who terrorizes a small German town, is the central character of the movie. The story begins with Thomas Hutter, a real estate agent who travels to Orlok's castle to complete a property sale.

Orlok is a demonic force determined to disseminate darkness, although he is unaware of his own nature. Ellen, Thomas' wife, becomes the vampire's primary target due to her psychic connection with him.

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Lily-Rose Depp and her career

Born on May 27, 1999, Lily-Rose Depp is a French-American actress and model. She began her acting career with Tusk in 2014. Later, she gained praise for her performances in films such as The Dancer (2016) and The King (2019). She is the daughter of singer Vanessa Paradis and actor Johnny Depp.

In the film Nosferatu, Depp assumes the most demanding role of her career as Ellen Hutter. Her portrayal has been described as transformative, illustrating her development as an actress.

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Cast list of Nosferatu

The main cast of the film includes:

• Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok
• Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter
• Nicholas Hoult as Thomas Hutter
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Friedrich Harding
• Emma Corrin as Anna Harding
• Willem Dafoe as Prof. Von Franz
• Ralph Ineson as Dr. Wilhelm Sievers
• Simon McBurney as Herr Knock

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Stay tuned for more news and updates on Nosferatu as the new year progresses.