Product Details

• Actors: Elina Löwensohn, Nic Ratner, Karl Geary, Peter Fonda, Martin Donovan (II)
• Format: Color, DVD, Black & White, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Pioneer Ldca Inc.
• DVD Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004TJGF
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #288,873 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Nadja" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

An eerie comedy written and directed by Michael Almereyda (and produced by David Lynch), based on the Dracula legend but updated and filmed in New York City; the splendid black-and-white cinematography, by Jim DeNault, evokes the old Universal horror pictures. The story, which begins after Dr. Van Helsing (played with goofy charm by Peter Fonda) has killed Dracula, concerns his efforts to track down the vampire's twin children. It's intended as a flippant take on the monsters that hide inside dysfunctional families, but the uneven mix of eroticism and one-liners doesn't always work, and Nadja, Dracula's daughter, though she is well played by Elina Löwensohn, comes off like some druggy East Village chick looking to score. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone, but excellent choice for indie & vampire, January 18, 2001

By 

listost (Lenox, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nadja (DVD)

This is a flick I'd recommend to two types: the vampire movie fan, and the indie movie fan. For indie fans, they have much originality to expect from the raw style and small budget of Nadja. It is shot with a simple digital camera and uses pixelated effects. The acting is solid. Elina Löwensohn, who plays Nadja, is brilliant. The script is fresh, despite the parallels with the original Dracula.

For vampire fans, Nadja is a must-see movie. That is, unless you prefer recycled goth-style renditions of the vampire story repeated over and over. Nadja is one of the few *modern* vampire movies that does not incorporate a form of martial arts fighting. There is a somber, crisp mood reflected from both the black and white digital film and the character script. It is a modern and fresh story which remains true to the character motives and rarely duplicated creepiness (though many have tried) of Bram Stocker's classic novel Dracula. You'll also find hidden humerous remarks throughout the film referencing aspects of 'dracula culture'.

Also, the dark theme of the music in the film (from such artists as Portishead) adds to the emotional effect the director has intended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than most B Films, April 10, 2000

By 

"dred_steel" (Bolingbrook, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nadja [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Rich in metaphors, the noveau style of Nadja makes viewing it worthwhile. Whereas other low budget films of this genre tend to over-do the blood and gore aspects of the vampiric lifestyle, director Almereyda foregos that method, opting instead to delve into the psychological issues which must haunt an individual who is forced to spend eternity wandering the night and feeding on humans. His play on the ever-present human aspects of the vampire characters makes for interesting viewing, especially when you contrast the vampire Edger, who seeks to live a "normal" existence with the woman he loves even if it costs him his life, and Nadja, who accepts her lot and attempts to "be all she can be" while still "mourning" the death of her beloved (or possibly not so beloved) father at the hand of Dr. Van Helsing (Fonda).

As a point of criticism, the final clash between the two vampire twins Nadja and Edgar is somewhat anti-climatic. The buildup left you desiring to see more of a struggle or something, leaving you with a feeling betrayal, asking yourself the question, "Was that all?" Another weak area was the filmography during the shots where Nadja attacks her victims. It seems too psychadelic, as Almereyda changes the camera film speed and focus, filming the scenes through a filter in order to provide a "special effect." It seemed he was attempting to capture something sensual, almost sinister, with the moment. However, it failed. All it did for me was become a tad irritating after the first occurence, and soon I found myself longing for a little old fashioned fangs and gore. However, the choice of b&w versus color for the film was excellent, allowing the director the opportunity to splice in vintage Bela Lugosi images during episodes when Nadja reflects on her departed father.

Overall, Nadja is definitely worth viewing. I recommend only the most die hard vampire fans purchase it, as most "normal" fans will find the movie unimpressive, the plot slow, and the "special effects" primitive.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars surprisingly good, January 8, 2004

By 

tom (U.K. M'bro) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nadja (DVD)

Its a wild ride well worth watching. Hard work, but at the same time somehow natural in its communication. Dialogue thats beyond simple in places, in others, worth hours of contemplation. I haven't "felt" a film this much in a long time.