PETA бойкотуватиме фільм «Носферату»
Now we’re just waiting for a protest from the Vampire Association.
Animal rights organization PETA slammed the new “Nosferatu” movie for its false and stereotypical portrayal of rats. Activists even claimed they’d bring a “giant rat” and a poster that reads “Rats have rights! We didn’t cause the plague!” to one of the film screenings.
In the new movie by director Robert Eggers, there’s a scene where 5000 rats swarm the streets of London, spreading the bubonic plague. The director confirmed that real trained rodents were used in the foreground, while computer graphics filled the background.
PETA’s head of animal welfare in film and television, Lauren Thomasson, expressed concerns about the portrayal of rats in the film:
“The likelihood of being harmed by a rat in real life is no greater than by a vampire. Misrepresenting these animals as harbingers of death deprives viewers of the chance to see them as intelligent, sociable, and gentle creatures. The only ‘pests’ viewers should be concerned about are the directors who subject animals to chaos and stress on set. PETA urges everyone to recognize these disgraceful stereotypes and treat rats with due respect.”
The film’s production designer, Craig Lathrop, previously discussed the safety measures taken during filming: “We installed clear barriers to keep the rats in a controlled area. In the street scene, horses were on one side of the partition, and rats on the other, to prevent any harm to the animals.”
“Nosferatu” is a remake of the 1922 “Symphony of Horror” and is based on Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula.” The plot centers around the vampire Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), who falls in love with Helen (Lily-Rose Depp), the wife of his real estate agent (Nicholas Hoult). The film also stars Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, and others.
The premiere of “Nosferatu” in Ukraine is scheduled for January 1, 2025.