Daniel Day-Lewis as Count Dracula? In another world, director Robert Eggers' Nosferatu could have given us just that.

"Nosferatu" evokes images of silent film actor Max Schreck in a bald cap and pointed ears as he played the vampire Count Orlok. But in Eggers' new Nosferatu, Orlock actor Bill Skarsgård doesn't seem anything like that — even himself.

Similar to Skarsgård's performance as Pennywise in IT, he completely submits to the character, disappearing behind the make-up and (in "Nosferatu") an echo effect on his voice. I wholeheartedly agree with Chris Evangelista from the film that when you watch Skarsgård's Orlok, you don't feel like you're watching a performance, but actual evil walking on screen. In that way, it's the most fully populated villain I can think of since Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight.

Now, all of this might sound like a backhanded compliment, treating Skarsgård as a mere sidekick while the makeup and sound design do the work. But I think it's a sign of humility and skillful restraint, seeing that most actors will love their own face on screen as Skarsgård buries his. Orlok's movements, body language and intonations are also Skarsgård's; the makeup is only so convincing because it glides on so easily.

Skarsgård was originally cast as the film's male lead, Thomas Hutter, who was played by Nicholas Hoult instead. I think it worked; both are extremely handsome men, but Hult has more of a boyish innocence (even if he will play Lex Luthor in James Gunn's Superman). Skarsgård, with sharp features and big eyes, is more sinister.

If Skarsgård there was But Hatter played, who would Orlok be? Eggers' wish list reportedly included Day Lewis, Mads Mikkelsen and Willem Dafoe (who instead played the renamed Van Helsing, Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz).