‘Shadow of a vampire’ directed by Elias Merhige, relies on the seminal text of ‘Dracula’ and a framework of ‘Nosferatu’, but ultimately it survives on its own. Merhige has taken the German expressionist film of ‘Nosferatu’ and turned it into post modernist text that questions reality. Scenes in ‘shadow of a vampire’ directly reference ‘Dracula’, but in doing this, creates another element of ‘Dracula’ that was not previously considered. This reinvention has allowed a grand narrative to be formed, which has paved the way for Merhige to implement his own ideologies and create a new context based around the unseen, immoralities of the actors.
The transformation of the contexts over the three texts has changed dramatically, but it has also allowed Merhige to create an abstract context that seems out of place when it contrasts to the two other texts. To go from ‘Dracula’ as a gothic mode text, based around a sexually depressed society that hints sexual innuendos, but ultimately has to be punished; to a German expressionist ‘Nosferatu’ that centers on the depressing horrors of death; and then to completely turn the underlying issues around so they base upon decedent, immoral and sometimes amoral society of Germany, is extremely effective and original. This change creates a text that screams post modernist in such a way where the traditional horrors seen in the previous texts, seem pathetic next to the new horrors that question reality itself.
The grand narrative evident in ‘Shadow of a vampire’ asks the question of what is reality, and to be more specific what is a vampire and what is immortality. Merhige has created a modern vampire, in the form of F.W Murnau, and he has given Murnau certain characteristics that reflect a traditional blood sucking vampire. This new vampire juxtaposes Orlok as he is a traditional vampire, and by doing this creates a battle of evils. This battle is then aided by the similar character traits both vampires possess, these being lust and the desire for power. Orlok lusts for Greta and Murnau uses