‘Heroes of our own story’: How Doug Jones’ 'Nosferatu' brings out the monster in all of us

Halloween and horror buffs ventured into the night Thursday to the historic State Theatre in downtown Sioux Falls to view a retelling of the gothic classic “Nosferatu,” as well as meet the star of the film and master of creature lore himself, Doug Jones.

Thursday night’s after-show, Nosferatu: An Evening with Doug Jones , was part of a series of events for this year’s annual SiouxperCon , being held this weekend at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Jones is one of the many guest appearances in attendance for autographs and photos.

Jones has starred in numerous lore films and series such as “Hocus Pocus” as Billy Bucherson, “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Hellboy,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “What We Do in the Shadows” series as Baron Afanas.

The evening began with long lines, free popcorn courtesy of Service First Federal Credit Union and a retold vampiric tale displayed on the big screen.

A Q&A with Jones was held afterward, moderated by “Screams from the Basement” weekly horror podcast hosts Sam Lenz and Casey Kelderman, both of Sioux Falls. Kelderman is the coordinator for the SiouxperCon Film Fest and Lenz is the assistant coordinator.

Jones shared his insights about the film’s production process and his experiences portraying many creatures of lore, including his lifelong dream of playing Nosferatu.

"Doug spoke about the importance and beautiful nature of monsters and how each of us has been called a monster, freak or weird,” Kelderman said. “Through his work, he has made all of us freaks and weirdos feel welcomed and like the heroes of our own story."

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Kelderman said Thursday night’s event had been a year in the making since it was announced that Jones would be 2024’s SiouxperCon premiere guest.

“Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” (not to be confused with the upcoming Robert Eggers adaptation) is a revamp of the original 1922 silent film directed by F. W. Murnau, an unofficial adapted version of Bram Stocker’s 1897 novel “Dracula.” The new version starred Jones as Count Orlok, a villainous vampire that preys on the wife of protagonist and estate agent Thomas Hutter.

The film, directed by David Lee Fisher (“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”), portrays a set of new actors with the original “Nosferatu” film scenes layered in the backdrop. Fisher’s version included verbal dialogue and a more modernized score as well.

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For Kelderman and Lenz, who both grew up watching Jones's work, it was “a dream come true to interview the modern man of 1,000 faces at the beautiful Sioux Falls State Theatre," said Kelderman.

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Attendees were also treated to a surprise souvenir from the occasion, Nosferatu posters, each signed by Jones that very evening, giving fans a chance to meet the “prince of darkness” himself.

"He was impressed by the almost 100-year-old theater and the incredible reception from the crowd after the movie. He was very warm and welcoming to each and every person he spoke to and signed a poster for after the Q&A," Lenz said.

Tickets can still be purchased at the door on the days of the three-day event.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: ‘Heroes of our own story’: How Doug Jones’ 'Nosferatu' brings out the monster in all of us