ADVERTISEMENTThe original 1922 version of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is set to get a new cinema release – with a brand new soundtrack, courtesy of Radiohead.
F.W. Murnau’s silent German Expressionist classic, which was based on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and is widely regarded as an influential masterpiece of cinema and the horror genre, will be set to Radiohead’s classic albums ‘Kid A’ (2000) and ‘Amnesiac’ (2001).
This comes as part of a new series called Silents Synced. Created by Josh Frank, the series pairs iconic silent films with era-defining records.
Kicking off in the UK this autumn, the series will begin with Nosferatu – which was recently remade by Robert Eggers.
In our review of the remake, we said: “While fans of Eggers may bemoan this pronounced reverence for the source material, especially since the director’s unique sense of creativity has never felt restrained before, Nosferatu’s bite will satisfy those wanting purist vampire folklore, more sexual overtones, and a lot of close-up shots of Lily-Rose Depp in states of both euphoria and agony.”
Screenings in October coincide with the 25th anniversary of ‘Kid A’ – a critically acclaimed album widely regarded as one of Radiohead’s most ambitious.
In 2026, the second instalment of the Silents Synced series will see Buster Keaton’s 1924 comedy Sherlock Jr. matched to R.E.M’s albums ‘Monster’ (1994) and ‘New Adventures in Hi-Fi’ (1996).
“The question for independent cinemas all across the world has become: what can we do to not remain solely reliant on new tentpole Hollywood releases to get product and experiences people can—increasingly—often wait and get at home?” said Silents Synced creator Josh Frank.
He added: “This has led us to something brand new out of necessity, in the same way great outsider art has always been created. It’s a whole new cinema experience that we feel both film obsessives and music fans will find something really unique in.”
This is not the first time that Radiohead’s music has been used to update a classic.
Last year, we reported that Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke was adapting the band’s 2003 album ‘Hail To The Thief’ for a new production of Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”.
The production, titled “Hamlet Hail To The Thief”, sees Yorke team up with Tony and Olivier Award-winning directors Steven Hoggett and Christine Jones to create a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, described as a “feverish new live experience, fusing theatre, music and movement”.
Yorke “personally reworks” and orchestrates ‘Hail To The Thief’ for a cast of over 20 musicians and actors, and the music will be performed live during each show.
‘Radiohead X Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror’ will be playing in cinemas from 2 October, while ‘R.E.M X Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr.’ will be available from 5 February 2026. Visit here for more information.
