At the moment I've found myself heavily interested in silent films. I was introduced to silent films at a young age- not by choice but by force from my grandparents who loved to sit and watch them. I love how silent films rely on music and actors over exaggerating their expressions to convey emotions, moods and tension.

Still from Nosferatu 1922

The music used in silent films are crucial as it sets the general atmosphere in the scenes without use of dialogue.

My favourite silent film is F.W Murnau's Nosferatu which is a 1922 German expressionist horror film.

Nosferatu contains many iconic images which often pop up in modern films today. The most famous scene being Orlok's shadow whilst he walks down the stairs.

Murnau uses lighting to convey the different atmospheres, for example the lighting appears to be darker at Count Orlok's castle and the over use of shadow is used to create tension and suspense and also enlarge Orlok's silhouette which deems the other characters inferior.

I think Murnau was well ahead of his time regarding his film making style. His use of lighting, sound and  mise-en-scene makes him one of the most important figures of the German expressionist movement.