10 Great Horror Movies Made By Non-Horror Directors

Werner Herzog is well-known as being one of, if not the most eccentric German filmmaker of the 20th Century. His films may not have made a great splash in English speaking countries, but his personality, work ethic and stories about filmmaking have certainly carved himself a reputation in the cinema world with people calling him ‘the important film director alive’.

Herzog is best known for his epics and documentary work throughout the years, but in 1979 he decided to tackle a remake of one of the most legendary German horror films: Nosferatu. With his staple lead actor Klaus Kinski in the titular role and Bruno Ganz in the shoes of Jonathan Harker, Herzog’s rendition of Murnau’s original received critical acclaim when it was released. Described as 'beautiful', 'melancholy' and 'grim' in reviews, this movie is the great exception to the rule that remakes are always going to be terrible. Herzog followed the same plot as the original, but paid close attention to atmosphere and visual style in order to create a whole new experience. This version was darker, more surreal, and visually stunning to behold in comparison to the original.

Herzog moved on from horror after this movie and continued to make epics, documentaries, and a brief stint where he made Bad Lieutenant with Nicholas Cage. However, Nosferatu continually appears in ‘Best Of Herzog’ collections and is still listed as one of Roger Ebert’s ‘Best Movies’.