This film follows Ellen, a young woman bound by an old pledge to the mysterious Count Orlock. Years later, married to Thomas Hutter, her past resurfaces when Thomas is sent to Orlock's castle for a real estate deal. Thomas discovers Orlock is a vampire and barely escapes, while Orlock, obsessed with Ellen, travels to their town of Wisborg, bringing plague and death. As Orlock terrorizes the town and Ellen's loved ones, she realizes that her willing sacrifice is the only way to destroy the vampire. The narrative culminates in Ellen's ultimate act of luring Orlock into a fatal trap, leading to his demise at the cost of her own life, thereby saving the town.
A Summary of the Film's Narrative
00:00:02 Initial Pledge: The film opens with a young Ellen calling for companionship and being answered by an inhuman voice, an unseen entity (later revealed as Count Orlock). She agrees to pledge herself to him.
00:00:28 Years Later in Wisborg: The story jumps to 1838 Germany. Ellen is married to real estate agent Thomas Hutter. Thomas takes a new job with Knock, who tasks him with selling an old castle belonging to Count Orlock.
00:00:46 Ellen's Premonition: Ellen becomes upset about Thomas's trip, recounting a disturbing wedding night dream where death was her groom, though she paradoxically felt happy.
00:01:14 Thomas's Journey: Thomas travels to Bohemia. Locals are wary of Count Orlock. He witnesses villagers staking a creature in a sarcophagus in the woods.
00:01:41 Arrival at Orlock's Castle: A carriage takes Thomas to Orlock's castle. Count Orlock, who moves in darkness, has Thomas address him as "My Lord."
00:01:56 Orlock's Nature Revealed: Thomas cuts his thumb, and Orlock senses and feeds on the blood. Orlock sees a locket with Ellen's picture, recognizing her as the woman who pledged loyalty to him years ago.
00:02:12 Thomas's Imprisonment and Discovery: Orlock keeps Thomas weak and feeds on his chest. Thomas finds Orlock in his sarcophagus, confirming he is a vampire, and tries to kill him with a pickaxe but fails, escaping by jumping into a river.
00:02:39 Ellen's Affliction: While Thomas is away, Ellen experiences seizures and becomes bedridden. Dr. Wilhelm Sievers is called to treat her.
00:02:58 Thomas's Return & Orlock's Pursuit: Thomas recovers and rushes home, knowing Orlock intends to pursue Ellen.
00:03:05 Occult Investigation: Dr. Sievers consults his mentor, Dr. Albin Eberhard Von Franz, an expert in the occult. They visit Knock, now institutionalized and raving about his "master" (Orlock) coming.
00:03:24 Orlock's Control: Von Franz determines Ellen is being psychically controlled by Orlock, also known as Nosferatu. Ellen speaks of Orlock haunting her mind and dreams since childhood.
00:03:47 Orlock's Voyage and Plague: Orlock stows away on a ship with crates of his native dirt and plague-infested rats. He slaughters the crew, and the ship crashes in Wisborg's harbor.
00:04:02 Orlock's Arrival in Wisborg: Orlock mind-controls Ellen to taunt the returning Thomas. The escaped Knock leads Orlock to his new residence. Orlock states his plans require Ellen to re-pledge herself willingly.
00:04:22 Orlock's Ultimatum: Orlock appears to Ellen in a dream, giving her three nights to divorce Thomas and join him, or he will kill everyone she loves and the town.
00:04:43 The Plague Spreads: Ellen awakens to find her friend Anna surrounded by rats. The plague begins to ravage Wisborg.
00:04:52 Ellen's Defiance: Ellen resists Orlock's mental manipulation by engaging in rough sex with Thomas.
00:05:02 Orlock Murders Ellen's Friends: Orlock kills Anna's daughters, Clara and Louise, then Anna and her unborn child. Friederick, Anna's husband, later dies by intentionally contracting the plague from Anna's corpse.
00:05:23 The Plan for Sacrifice: Ellen and Von Franz realize that only Ellen's willing sacrifice can truly destroy Orlock.
00:05:34 The Decoy Hunt: Von Franz leads Thomas and Sievers on a supposed hunt for Orlock. They find Knock in Orlock's sarcophagus and impale him; Knock laments Orlock's sole interest in Ellen.
00:05:59 Ellen's Sacrifice: As Thomas rushes back, Ellen willingly re-pledges herself to Orlock. He has sex with her and feeds on her blood.
00:06:09 Orlock's Demise: Orlock is with Ellen until morning, realizing too late he has been tricked. The sunlight causes him to bleed to death and shrivel into a corpse.
00:06:16 Ellen's Death: Ellen dies in Orlock's arms just as Thomas returns. He weeps, holding her body.
00:06:30 Wisborg Saved: Von Franz concludes that Ellen's sacrifice spared the rest of the town from Orlock's curse.