“The role they were born to play” gets tossed around a lot these days, but offhand it’s hard to think of better casting than Willem Dafoe as Max Schreck (the “actor” playing Count Orlok in seminal silent horror movie Nosferatu, the troubled production of which Shadow of the Vampire is a fictionalized retelling). Sure, he’s one of our greatest living actors and an almost parodically expressive performer. But also, just look at the guy. No offense.

Okay, let’s back up and unwind those parentheticals a little. Shadow of the Vampire is producer Nicolas Cage (yes, THAT Nicolas Cage) and director E. Elias Merhige’s answer to a question we’ve all asked ourselves at some point: what if this horror movie was real? In this case: what if F.W. Murnau’s classic Nosferatu wasn’t simply a silent and copyright-dodging semi-retelling of the story of Dracula, but instead an actual vampire captured on film and engaged in a partnership with the director? It’s a bizarre but magnetic conceit, and thanks to the performance of Dafoe, along with John Malkovich, Cary Elwes and more, it works. Maybe all creativity is negotiation with a monster. Tampa Theatre premiered Shadow of the Vampire on its release in 2000, and this seemed a good year to once more call it up from its grave!

This screening is held in the Historic Duncan Auditorium. This space utilizes open seating for this event, seat selection is not required.

VIEW the full 2026 “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” series lineup.