Why Hutter why?

October 31, 2009 1:48 PM

We've just watch Nosferatu and have a question (spoliers inside)

Hutter is bitten by Nosferatu and lives. All the other people who are bitten die. Why is he so special? I've googled and wikipedia'ed but can't quite find the answer

posted by rus to Media & Arts (3 answers total)

Orlok wants to move out of the castle. Hutter is his key to do so. It's only after Orlok sets his plan in motion by signing the documents does he discover the link between Hutter and Ellen. Then he pretty much forgets about Hutter and sets off for his new home and his new target.

It's essentially the exact same plot as Bram Stoker's Dracula.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:26 PM on October 31, 2009

In other words, Orlok will keep Hutter alive as long as he is useful, and then Orlok is distracted by a bigger goal.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:28 PM on October 31, 2009

In Stoker's Dracula, the vampire sucks your blood for several nights in a row before you eventually die-- one or two nights (all that Hutter is exposed to in the film) isn't enough to kill him. When we see other people dying from Orlok's visits in the film (aboard the ship, in the town), there's no way to be sure how many times he's visited them before their death, as it isn't shown-- my understanding is that there were several nights spent on each victim but that time is dealt with elliptically.
posted by shakespeherian at 6:41 PM on November 1, 2009