in 1838, thomas hutter lives in the fictional german city of wisborg. his mysterious employer, estate agent herr knock, sends hutter to transylvania to visit a new client named count orlok who plans to buy a house in wisborg. hutter entrusts his loving wife ellen to his good friend harding and harding's sister annie, before embarking on his long journey. nearing his destination in the carpathian mountains, hutter stops at an inn for dinner. the locals become frightened by the mere mention of orlok's name and discourage him from traveling to his castle at night, warning of a werewolf on the prowl.