One of the most secretive elements about Robert Eggers Nosferatua reimagining of a silent film that famously lifted its plot from Draculais what Count Orlok would look like. Before the film hit theaters, marketing material showed the vampire played by Bill Skarsgrd only in silhouette or shadow. This was couched in discussion of how freakishly terrifying the character would appear on-screen, but now that the movies out, audiences are also taking note of a surprising grooming choice. Obviously its that mustache! In a spoiler-y interview with Variety, Eggers was asked why Count Orlok has such distinctive facial hair. As is often the case with this writer-director, it started while he was doing extensive research ahead of production.To try to make a more scary vampire than weve had in quite some time, I went back to the folklore, he told the trade. Its something that I like anyway, but the early folk vampire was written about by people who believed that vampires existed. There was going to be some good stuff there, and the vampire of folklore is a putrid, walking undead corpse. That led to, he explained, wondering What does a dead Transylvanian nobleman look like?From there, Eggers said, he figured that meant this complex Hungarian costume with very long sleeves, strange high-heeled shoes and a furry hat. It also means a mustache. No matter what, theres no way this guy cant have a mustache. Try to find a Transylvanian person whos of age who can grow a mustache that doesnt have a mustache. Its part of the culture. If you dont want to bother Googling, think of Vlad the Impaler. Even Bram Stoker had the sense to give Dracula a mustache in the book. So there you have it: its a culturally appropriate choiceas you can see, other characters in the film, including Willem Dafoes Prof. Von Franz, also rock stachesand its one Stoker himself took into consideration while working on the 1897 novel that started it all.Nosferatu is in theaters now. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.