Late Nights In The Middle Of June

I know they are different, but which movie did you enjoy watching more: Nosferatu (2024) or Frankenstein (2025)?

I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on what aspects each movie did better compared to the other.

I did think of Nosferatu a lot when I watched Frankenstein because there are a lot of parallels - which have been giffed - some of which are by virtue of being Gothic stories and there is certain imagery that comes with the territory

and some because it could be said that they are works in conversation with each other, or at least some aspects of the movies are (and I'm speaking strictly of these movies, not necessarily the source material or other adaptations), kind of two sides of the same coin in some respects

because the first thing that came to mind was, Frankenstein is a really horny movie

it is a really sensuous, sensual movie,

it's very tactile

and then I was like, but so is Nosferatu? And then I was like, actually, I think Nosferatu is erotic, yes

but concerned with the erotic more than being horny

We have debated this a lot on this blog, but I believe the relationship between Orlok and Ellen is heavily misinterpreted and that this isn't about abuse or SA, it's a romance and not in the traditional sense of the word because he is also an embodiment or a manifestation or a metaphor for Ellen's erotic nature and her darker nature,

which she, as a woman in the 19th century, is made to suppress and feel ashamed of, which is why she resists it so adamantly.

She loves Thomas, yes, but in a way that is deemed socially acceptable and in a way that doesn't ultimately fulfill her the way she needs it to

so in the end when she allows herself to be devoured and consumed, she is surrendering to her appetite

It's an examination of feminine eroticism and sensuality and agency.

Frankenstein, on the other hand is concerned with humanity (which then includes other themes like fatherhood and capitalism etc.). Frankenstein builds a human and then denies his humanity, which is why I think the movie is so tactile and concerned with physique and the human body and the human form

and concerned with touch and what touch means and what touch can signal and what touch can indicate

which can create poetic and romantic and yes, tactile/horny moments

and with Elizabeth and the Creature rather than the Creature representing Elizabeth or being an embodiment of her nature, I think he's her mirror as well as an embodiment of what she thinks humanity and human nature in its purest form, unspoiled and uncorrupted, looks like

but in both instances, in my opinion, Elizabeth and Ellen are liberated at their end and in the embrace of both of their creatures.

So I do find them very different and interesting in how they use sensuality to explore different things but they're also connected in my mind.

How lovely to wake up to this….

I think Stefan's, like, consistent but low key 'you're adorable' amusement when it comes to Elena is pretty underrated

like Elena is just like, I don't like fake-fighting with you! It sucks!

and he's looking at her like, you're so cute

and here's what, we'll make up a secret code, kay?

and when she's pouty and jealous about Katherine

and he's like you're adorable, I love you

or when she has a heavily idealized movie version of the 50s

even when they first meet