Do you like dracula or nosferatu more?

Nosferatu (’22) or Bram Stoker’s Dracula (’92)? Other than the 70-year difference in releases and the superficial plot lines, I don’t find much of anything in common between these two, but I’d have to say that I slightly prefer Nosferatu while greatly respecting Coppola’s technique in his adaptation. Nosferatu is not Murnau’s best picture, and certainly not the all-time masterpiece of horror as some sources bill it, but it’s quite good and achieves a level of mastery in Schreck’s performance. Bram Stoker’s Dracula subsists mainly on the imagery, which is very strong indeed (the “Lucy is staked” sequence is the best of the many adaptations and emphasizes the implied but blatant sexuality as no other version does), but the plot is messy and the acting (Oldman and Hopkins notwithstanding) off. I still think it’s better than often given credit for.

Either way, wouldn’t a fairer comparison be between Nosferatu and Dracula ’31 (the English-language version, that is)? Of those I’d actually have to say I prefer the latter.