Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Nosferatu.

In Robert Egggers' a long line of Nosferatu films. The original movie was a silent film, which premiered in 1922. Regardless, Eggers breathes new life into this old story, and his cast of characters, from Lily-Rose Depp to Bill Skarsgård, make this gothic tale completely captivating. Plus, Nosferatu is full of unexpected twists.

The premise of Nosferatu is a bit complex. Ellen is a newlywed who has long struggled with delusions and terrible dreams. When she married Thomas, these issues faded away. However, when Thomas is sent off to Transylvania to secure an estate sale with the mysterious Count Orlok, Ellen knows deep inside that something is very wrong. Soon enough, Orlok escapes his castle with the intention of making Ellen his, once and for all. The vampire brings a terrifying plague and the deaths of all those who Ellen loves. Thus, Ellen must make a choice that has a surprising origin story.

Nosferatu's Love Triangle Between Ellen, Thomas & Count Orlok Explained

Why Nosferatu's Love Triangle Is So Vital

Although it seems Count Orlok is coming after Ellen simply because she is a beautiful young woman, Ellen and Orlok actually have a genuine history. As a young girl, Ellen was lonely and asked the world for a companion. Orlok answered the call, and the two began a strange and unlikely love affair. Orlok did not kill Ellen, but attached himself to her, creating her horrific dreams and psychic abilities. Ellen reveals that Orlok loved her in a way no one ever had before, and brought a strong physical intimacy. Yet, their connection changed once Thomas entered the picture.

Ellen and Thomas fell in love and got married. Ellen's newfound love for Thomas made her visions cease, and for the first time, she was able to live a normal life. However, this is what makes Ellen's love triangle so important. Ellen's marriage to Thomas is the biggest reason why Orlok escapes his castle to claim Ellen. Orlok resents Thomas and wants to take Ellen as his own. Meanwhile, Ellen loves Thomas and wants to be with him. Thus, Ellen is thrown in the middle of a fight between Orlok's darkness and Thomas' goodness.

Was Ellen Actually In Love With Count Orlok?

Ellen's Connection With Orlok Sets Nosferatu Apart

Ellen likely was in love with Count Orlok, though it was an unhealthy and parasitic form of love. Orlok came to Ellen at a time when she was desperate to be cared for. This made her vulnerable, and willing to accept love from just about anyone, including a wizened old vampire. In this way, Ellen's love was likely real, but it came from manipulation and a moment of weakness. Ellen's love for Orlok was more of a dependency and an interest in his darkness, while her love for Thomas was rooted in reality and genuine care.

Ellen is not just a victim, but an important character with desires, ambitions, and power.

Ellen's strange love for Orlok is what really sets Nosferatu apart from other vampire horror movies. Generally, audiences expect Ellen's character to be the unwitting victim of the vampire, made vulnerable because of her beauty and helplessness. Yet, Eggers does not follow this route, and instead, makes Ellen a knowing player in this unlikely game. She called upon Orlok as a young girl, and now, she has the power to kill him. Ellen is not just a victim, but an important character with desires, ambitions, and power. Nosferatu cements Ellen's strength as a character.

What The Nosferatu Director & Cast Have Said About The Movie's Twisted Love Triangle

Nosferatu Is A Step-Up From Typical Vampire Movies

The oddity of Ellen and Orlok's connection has been confirmed by the movie's director, Robert Eggers. In an interview with The Verge, Eggers said, "It was always clear to me that Nosferatu is a demon lover story." He goes on to compare Nosferatu to the classic gothic novel, Wuthering Heights. Depp also backed up Eggers' claims, telling Games Radar that they "definitely wanted it to feel like a love-triangle in a lot of ways and it's a love story in the end." In this way, Nosferatu knew exactly what it was doing with Ellen and Orlok, and embraced this pairing.

Ultimately, Nosferatu's love triangle is what makes the movie so enticing, and so much better than a typical vampire movie. Nosferatu will have audiences guessing until the very end, and pulling apart the complicated web of love and darkness that Ellen is stuck within. In the end, Nosferatu brings just enough shocking horror and gorgeous storytelling to be a standout movie of the year.