Count Orlok

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Count Orlok from Nosferatu.

Graf Orlok (Count Orlok, also spelled Orlock) is the vampirical character portrayed by Max Schreck in the silent movie Nosferatu.

[edit] Nosferatu

In the film, Count Orlok is a nobleman from the Carpathian Mountains who moves to Bremen, Germany, and brings death with him. He lives in a vast castle high in the mountains, which is badly neglected and has a highly sinister feel to it. Local townsfolk refuse to go anywhere near his castle. Orlok is visited by the film's protagonist, the young Georg Hutter, the assistant of a Bremen estate agent, who travels to his castle to show properties for sale in Bremen. Orlok conceals himself in one of his soil-filled coffins and is loaded onto a ship bound for Bremen. On board the ship, he kills every crew member, except one, who commits suicide to save himself from the vampire. Upon his arrival in Bremen, he spreads disease and plague, forcing the local authorities to declare a quarantine and provoking hysteria amongst the citizens. At the end of the film, Orlok attempts to attack Hutter's young wife in her room, but is caught unawares by the rays of the rising sun, which burn him away in a cloud of smoke. He was the first vampire ever destroyed by sunlight in any artistic expression.

Count Dracula from Nosferatu the Vampyre, modeled on Orlok.

Orlok is the main model for a style of fictional vampire that is now called nosferatu after the movie. In the world of fictional Western vampires, Orlok is different from traditional models. He is based upon Dracula, but instead of being attractive, aristocratic, and charming, Orlok has a hideous and terrifying appearance. He resembles something between a rat and a spider and is much more analogous to historical accounts of vampires. He sleeps in soil infected with the Black Death, and brings plague and disease with him. He is followed everywhere by rats, traditional carriers of the feared Black Death. In terms of horror movie stereotypes, other vampires based upon this character are creatures bordering between a vampire and a mutant monster. Orlok's character is largely remembered in popular culture for one scene towards the end of the film, in which an unseen Orlok climbs the stairs of Hutter's house, casting a hideous shadow on the wall. The shadow, complete with pointed ears, hunched back, and long, claw-like fingers, moves stealthily up the wall in a manner similar to a spider, creating an eerie and disturbing scene which retains the power to chill twenty-first century viewers.

[edit] Popular culture influences

Orlok's appearance has served as an inspiration to many characters in film, television, and video games created since the release of Nosferatu:

• The early character of The Master and the Turok-Han vampires in the TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer show similarities to Orlok. In fact, the Master's appearance was conceived by portrayer Mark Metcalf as a homage to Orlok. In addition, the episode Why We Fight of the Buffy spin-off series Angel depicted a vampire called The Prince of Lies, who was implied to be the actual Count Orlok.

• The character of Orlok was provided an origin distinct from that of Dracula in the 1991-92 comic mini-series Nosferatu: Plague of Terror.

• Vampire in the Monster in My Pocket comic book and video game bears a strong resemeblance to Orlok, though softened a bit (with influence from Professor X) as the leader of the good monsters. Subsequent Monster in My Pocket materials abandoned this look, made him a villain, and gave him long hair tied off in a late eighteenth century style.

• In Michael Oblowitz's film, The Breed (2001) the leader of the vampies is based in appearance on Count Orlok.

• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a video game, features a character living in Dracula's castle named "Olrox", who, in addition to the name, bears many similarities to Orlok. Additionally, in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and its sequel, Dawn of Sorrow, there is a hidden article of clothing that can be equipped called Orlox's Suit. Finally, The main antagonist of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Brauner bears a striking resemblance to Count Orlok.

• An episode of the animated TV series Spongebob Squarepants titled The Graveyard Shift features a cameo by Count Orlok, although the characters refer to him as "Nosferatu".

• In the 2002 action film "Blade II", a number of characters feature obvious physical similarities to Orlok. These include the vampire elder Eli Damaskinos and his son Jared Nomak, as well as the rest of the genetically engineered strain of "Reapers".

• In one of the many sketches from the BBC comedy the Fast Show, Paul Whitehouse would dress up as Count Orlok and creep up to her bed. When she awakened with a scream, he would offer irreverent advice (such as tips for horse races or good TV shows) and then depart with the catchphrase 'Monster monster'.

• The 2000 animated series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command featured a recurring villain "NOS-4-A2," a vampiric robot who sucks the energy out of other robots. Although his suave behavior is more similar to Count Dracula's, he bears misshapen eyes and the trademark elongated fingers of Count Orlok.

• In the 2004 science fiction film Dracula 3000, the main antagonist is named Orlok, despite having the look and manner of Dracula.

• A 2004 Swedish power metal band Bloodbound released an album and a song both entitled "Nosferatu".

• 1990 - American death metal band Hellwitch made a song called "Nosferatu". Can be found on their website: http://www.hellwitch.us/music.html

• The southern California based "cinema-grind" band Graf Orlock is named after Count Orlok.

• Orlok appears as one of the "elder" vampires in the Anno Dracula series by Kim Newman.

• The Clan Nosferatu, from the roleplaying game Vampire: The Masquerade and the television show Kindred: The Embraced, is a bloodline of vampires modeled on Count Orlok. Unlike most other vampires, the Nosferatu are cursed with a hideous appearance that forces them to hide from humans.

• The Mortal Kombat character Baraka had his appearance created from a Nosferatu mask with metal teeth added.

• In Shadow of the Vampire, a fictionalized version of the making of Nosferatu, Count Orlok is actually played by a vampire. This is ironic, considering the many comments on the seeming genuine makeup of Orlok.

• The Opie & Anthony Show on XM Satellite Radio has an intern that is known as Nosferatu because of his resemblance to Count Orlok.

• The Reman species from Star Trek: Nemesis was based quite heavily on Count Orlok.

• The Nekromantix album Dead Girls Don't Cry cover is a parody of the image of Orlok climbing the stairs.