 Critic and writer Kim Newman described Vampyr 's style as closer to the experimental features such as Un chien andalou than a " quickie horror film " made after the release of Dracula ( 1931 ) . Dreyer originally was going to film Vampyr in what he described as a " heavy style " but changed direction after cinematographer Maté showed him one shot that came out fuzzy and blurred . This washed out look was an effect Dreyer desired , and he had Maté shoot the film through a piece of gauze held three feet ( .9 m ) away from the camera to re @-@ create this look . For other visuals in the film , Dreyer found inspiration from the fine arts . Actress Rena Mandel , who plays Gisèle , said that Dreyer showed her reproductions of paintings of Francisco Goya during filming . In Denmark , a journalist and friend of Dreyer , Henry Hellsen wrote in detail about the film and the artworks it appeared to draw on . When being asked about the intention of the film at the Berlin premiere , Dreyer replied that he " had not any particular intention . I just wanted to make a film different from all other films . I wanted , if you will , to break new ground for the cinema . That is all . And do you think this intention has succeeded ? Yes , I have broken new ground " . The filming of Vampyr was completed the middle of 1931 . 
