In the realm of cinematic artistry, few directors rival Robert Eggers when it comes to meticulous historical accuracy and atmospheric depth. His 2024 remake of Nosferatu, a reimagining of the 1922 German Expressionist classic, exemplifies this ethos. Eggers not only revived Count Orlok, the grotesque and enigmatic vampire, but also resurrected a dead language for his undead protagonist, Dacian.

This linguistic choice, while subtle, underpins the eerie authenticity of the film. Dacian, an ancient Indo-European language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Carpathian region—modern-day Romania—adds layers of depth and historical nuance to the character of Orlok. Played masterfully by Bill Skarsgård, Orlok’s guttural incantations in this long-extinct tongue serve as a chilling reminder of his preternatural age and his rootedness in the haunted lands of the Carpathians.

The Linguistic Choice: Why Dacian?

While many viewers might assume that Count Orlok, situated in the Romanian Carpathians, would speak Romanian, Eggers opted for Dacian to reflect Orlok's ancient lineage. Romanian, while rooted in the region, is a Romance language that evolved after the Roman Empire's conquest of Dacia in the 2nd century AD. Dacian, however, predates this, tracing its origins to the indigenous peoples of the area before Romanization. The Dacian language vanished around 500 AD, leaving only faint traces in place names, plant names, and substratum influences on modern Romanian.

Eggers explained his choice in an interview:
"Orlok is an ancient noble, predating even the foundations of the Romanian Empire. He needed a voice that felt as timeless and forgotten as his own existence. Dacian was perfect—it’s a spectral presence, much like Orlok himself."

For a director renowned for his fastidious attention to historical and cultural detail, this decision was far from arbitrary. Eggers collaborated with linguists and historians to reconstruct portions of the language, relying on comparative linguistics and what little documentation exists of Dacian. While the language itself remains largely mysterious, with only fragments preserved in Greek and Latin texts, these elements were sufficient to craft a haunting linguistic tapestry.

The Historical Context of Dacian

The Dacians were a Thracian tribe inhabiting the region of modern Romania and parts of Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. Their language belonged to the Indo-European family and likely shared similarities with Thracian and Illyrian. Dacian's phonetic structure is speculative, reconstructed through place names, river names, and plant names recorded in ancient sources like Dioscorides and Pseudo-Apuleius. For instance, the suffix "-dava," meaning settlement or village, appears in numerous place names, such as Sarmizegetusa, the Dacian capital.

Despite its extinction, Dacian left traces in the Romanian language, particularly in its substratum. Words like brânză ("cheese") and mal ("shore") are believed to have Dacian roots. These linguistic remnants serve as echoes of a culture that once thrived in the shadow of the Carpathians.

The Cinematic Execution: Dacian in Nosferatu

Bringing Dacian to life in Nosferatu was no small feat. Eggers enlisted Romanian screenwriter Florin Lăzărescu and consulted with linguists specializing in extinct Balkan languages. Bill Skarsgård, renowned for his transformative performances, trained rigorously to deliver his lines in this reconstructed language. His haunting delivery, characterized by drawn-out syllables and guttural vibratos, imbued Count Orlok with an otherworldly presence.

The use of Dacian extended beyond dialogue. Eggers integrated the language into the film’s score, with the choir chanting in Dacian during key scenes. Composer Mark Korven collaborated with linguists to craft these chants, blending the ancient tongue with modern musical techniques to evoke a sense of primordial dread.

This linguistic layer added authenticity to the film’s historical setting. Orlok’s castle, looming ominously in the Carpathians, felt less like a Gothic fantasy and more like an archaeological relic, with its inhabitant an unsettling artifact of a bygone era.

The Impact of Dacian on Orlok’s Characterization

By speaking Dacian, Orlok becomes more than just a vampire; he is a relic of an ancient world, a being whose existence predates modern civilization. His use of Dacian underscores his otherness—not only as a creature of the night but as a remnant of a culture swallowed by time. When Orlok casts his spells or utters incantations in this archaic tongue, he bridges the gap between myth and history, blurring the lines between legend and reality.

The choice of Dacian also adds a layer of tragedy to Orlok’s character. He is not merely undead; he is untethered from time, clinging to a language and culture that no longer exist. In this sense, his monstrousness is amplified by his isolation—not only from humanity but from history itself.

The Legacy of Eggers’ Linguistic Revival

Eggers’ use of Dacian in Nosferatu is a testament to the power of language in storytelling. By reviving this extinct tongue, he not only enriched the film’s narrative but also sparked renewed interest in the history and culture of the Dacian people. Linguists and historians have noted a surge in public curiosity about Dacian following the film’s release, with some even suggesting that the project could lead to further research into this enigmatic language.

In the end, Nosferatu is not just a vampire story; it is a haunting exploration of time, memory, and the fragments of history that refuse to fade. By giving Count Orlok the voice of a lost civilization, Eggers has ensured that both the character and the culture he represents will linger in the minds of audiences for years to come.