20. Nosferatu (1922)
directed by F.W. Murnau
German expressionism is a movement well-suited to horror, and who better to tackle Dracula than expressionist genius F.W. Murnau? The film takes the name Nosferatu because the studio didn’t have the rights to adapt Stoker’s novel – in fact, his heirs sued Prana Film, won, and demanded that every print of the film be destroyed. It’s sheer luck that a print survived, and we’re able to enjoy it today. Murnau’s masterful use of light and shadow heightens the tension and the horror, and Max Schreck’s eerie look as Count Orlok isn’t one you’ll forget easily. It set a standard for vampire films for years to come.