‘Nosferatu’s Nicholas Hoult Is Cementing His Scream King Status

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What do Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Daniel Kaluuya, and Patrick Wilson all have in common? They are all considered “Scream Kings.” This is a term for an actor who is particularly known for their roles in the horror genre. Typically, they will be the characters that you directly root for against the antagonist of the piece, such as Kaluuya’s Chris in Get Out and Wilson’s Ed Warren in The Conjuring. Though Skarsgård’s Scream King status is arguably gained more from the number of monsters he has played rather than his more sympathetic roles in films like Barbarian, it is also a testament to how variety can play a big part in what makes a Scream King.

With these factors in mind, we should be adding Nicholas Hoult to the list, with Nosferatu being the final nail in the coffin, pun very much intended. Not only has Hoult shined in the genre throughout his entire career, eliciting varied audience reactions from sympathy to rage, but his ability to adapt to different nuances within the genre, as well as portray complex and evolving characters, means he has successfully earned the title of Scream King just as much as any of the other actors mentioned.

Nicholas Hoult Has Been Excelling in Horror Since ‘Warm Bodies’

While Nicholas Hoult may not be entirely synonymous with scary movies, earning acclaim for his roles in the hit British drama Skins and the X-Men franchise, the actor’s presence within the horror genre is unquestionable. What must be noticed is the different roles in a variety of horror subgenres he has played. Appearances in the 2013 rom-com horror Warm Bodies, the 2022 psychological horror The Men u, and the contemporary supernatural frights Renfield and Nosferatu prove Hoult’s impressive versatility that makes him the perfect Scream King.

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We root for him in Warm Bodies due to the romantic subplot and dry humor that wholesomely subverts our expectations, like accurately narrating to the audience his life as a zombie and learning to become human again. Yet, our sympathy for his abused character in Renfield is more complicated due to his active culpability in Dracula’s crimes of feeding on people, despite the way his master abuses him.

Compare this to The Menu, with a far more condemning tone for its characters and their outlook on life. Despite Ralph Fiennes‘ brilliant portrayal of a psychotic murdering chef, it is Hoult’s pathetic, deceitful character who we truly despise as he shows no empathy towards the surrounding victims, only happy to be eating at his hero’s restaurant. There is little to no sympathy for the character when he is humiliated by Fiennes, yet his suicide leaves a lasting, depressing impact on the film. It’s clear how Hoult is not only comfortable in the genre but adaptable enough to play on different emotions of the audience, making us engage with each of his performances on a different level.

Nicholas Hoult Nails the Transformative Aspect of a Scream King in ‘Nosferatu’

Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) approaches Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) in 'Nosferatu' — Image via Focus Features

A key aspect of a Scream King is the ability to showcase a character’s arc so that we feel the emotional stakes at all times as they begin to challenge whatever antagonistic forces burden them. Hoult executes this successfully in Nosferatu. In the first two acts of the film, Hoult’s Thomas has little to no agency over his situation as he is used as a pawn by the dark forces at work. The rising desperation of Thomas heightens the stakes surrounding Nosferatu and our fear of his power.

Yet, by the end, Hoult’s performance involves a level of frustration that completely changes his agency. He is not only prepared to do battle with this demonic entity one-on-one but actively moves towards it and condemns people like Willem Dafoe’s doctor, Albin Eberhart Von Franz, for seeking to block his path. Hoult’s hurry to bury a stake in Nosferatu’s heart is a large reason why the third act of Nosferatu works so well. After an initial fall into despair, this turnaround ramps up the tension as we feel an inevitable drive towards the climax. Without it, Ellen’s (Lily-Rose Depp) sacrifice wouldn’t feel as tragic because her acceptance of her fate wouldn’t be contrasted by Thomas’ raging against it.

Nicholas Hoult in just a handful of movies has exhibited an impressive ability to tap into fear. Yet, what is truly remarkable is his skill at incorporating a range of emotions, including comedy, hatred, cowardice, and courage not just in Nosferatu, but throughout his entire horror filmography. Because of this, I, for one, look forward to seeing what this Scream King does next.

Nosferatu is currently showing in cinemas across the U.S.

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