Moviegoers might be surprised to see Chris Columbus listed as a producer on Nosferatu and wonder, “Wait, the Home Alone guy?” (Of course, the name is not unique to him.)
But indeed, this chilling vampire tale is produced by the same filmmaker who directed the heartwarming holiday classic about a young boy left behind, as well as other family-friendly hits like Mrs. Doubtfire and the first two Harry Potter films.
In fact, Columbus has been involved in producing the eerie, atmospheric work of writer-director Robert Eggers since the filmmaker’s debut feature, 2015’s The Witch, followed by the 2019 psychological horror-drama The Lighthouse. “Just because I make a certain, specific kind of film doesn’t mean I wasn’t in love with every other genre of filmmaking,” Columbus tells Vanity Fair.
Although many of his most successful films have been light-hearted and uplifting, Columbus has a darker side as well. His breakthrough in the industry came when he wrote the 1984 creature feature Gremlins, which featured mischievous little green creatures wreaking havoc in a small town at Christmas.
He also penned the screenplay for 1985’s Young Sherlock Holmes, which includes a horrifying scene where a murderous knight emerges from a stained glass window to kill an elderly priest—also set at Christmastime.
Nosferatu Movie
Now 66, Columbus says working with Eggers has allowed him to tap back into his darker inclinations, giving him the chance to explore the sinister side behind his wholesome reputation.
He is also producing Nosferatu with his daughter, Eleanor Columbus, blending his love for the macabre and dark humor into a family-run venture through their company, Maiden Voyage Pictures.
In this exclusive interview, Columbus shares how he contributed to Nosferatu and explains why such a monstrous film is being released on Christmas Day rather than Halloween.
As a special Christmas treat, he also reminisces about past projects, including revealing never-before-shared details about the difficult experience with Chevy Chase that led him to step away from directing Christmas Vacation.
Columbus also discusses the infamous cameo by Donald Trump in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and the reasons behind his reluctant decision to include it in the film.
