Every so often, a film that has to be a hit comes along. In such cases, anything that isn’t a perfect theatrical experience feels disappointing. This is how Renfield flies into theaters following an impressively quirky marketing campaign. We know Nicolas Cage has one primary speed — delightfully over-the-top. A performer like Cage needs a movie to match his weirdness. Will Renfield fit the bill, or does this vampire comedy miss the jugular?
Renfield follows the titular character (Nicholas Hoult) as he realizes he deserves more in life. He’s only recently learned his boss, Count Dracula (Cage), is a toxic narcissist, and to be happy, Renfield must break from the only life he’s known. The only thing standing in the way is a crime family, corrupt cops and Rebecca Quincey (Awkwafina), a young police officer fighting an uphill battle. Chris McKay directs Renfield from a script by Ryan Ridley and a story by Robert Kirkman (Yes! That one).
From its opening frames, Renfield shows itself to be a brash and unapologetic bit of quirkiness. As Nicholas Hoult launches into what would be an overwhelmingly boring expository speech in the wrong hands, this movie swings for the fences. As we hear about the day Renfield and Dracula met, McKay and his visual team seamlessly integrate Hoult and Cage into the legendary 1931 film.
Hoult and Cage enter the world of this 90-year-old movie through the magic of computers. We see Nicolas Cage (instead of Bela Lugosi) launch into the iconic line, “I don’t drink … wine.” At one point, the characters even interact with David Manners (as John Harker.) This is a huge gamble. Not only did Lugosi leave big shoes to fill, but this is a massive visual undertaking. Luckily, the gamble pays off. It sets the scene, crafts the tone and lets the audience see precisely what craziness they’re in for.
With each passing role, Cage continues to show exactly why he’s a generational acting treasure. He’s Nick Flipping Cage, after all, and apparently, Count Dracula is the role he was born to play. Throughout Renfield, Cage is having a blast, and he chews all the scenery … in the best way possible.
That said, the ensemble around him doesn’t slouch either! Hoult and Awkwafina have both risen through the industry in the last decade. Get ready to feel old, kids. Hoult was the titular “Boy” in About a Boy. He’s been on a fast rise over the last 10 years and has shown himself to be a fearless actor with whipsmart comedic timing.
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Awkwafina, meanwhile, is learning fast and showing massive professional development in a short amount of time. She broke out as a comedian and rapper in the 2010s. However, since 2019’s The Farewell, her screen persona has evolved, and one thing is becoming clear: she’s a darn good actress.
As Rebecca Quincey, Awkwafina feels like an unconventional but welcomed choice in this lead role. She brings a beautiful strength and vulnerability to this flawed character which is becoming a hallmark of her work. She is spunky; there’s no doubt about it. At the same time, though, she’s real and relatable.
Hoult and Awkwafina combine to find a heartfelt strength in these characters and their budding friendship. Both performers are deeply at ease in their portrayals and have no problem finding a deeper side to this deceptively complex narrative.
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Renfield is everything the trailer promises. This zany horror comedy has all the blood and gore one could want. As a warning, there’s a lot of gore. A lot. Limbs are ripped off, and then folks are impaled on those limbs. This movie could be in the running for “The Bloodiest Movie Ever.”
Simultaneously, Renfield is a story about our internal struggles and the inherent complexity of power dynamics. As I said, it is deceptively intricate.
Quincey and Renfield are both underdogs fighting against something immensely powerful. He battles the “Prince of Darkness” while she struggles against a corrupt justice system. While we each fight different battles, each of us, at one time or another, has been the underdog. This is inherently relatable. As Renfield learns, we must find our voice to discover the power we each possess.
In Hoult’s hands, Renfield has spirit. He matches incredibly well with Cage, and his charisma carries the film. This is fully and completely Renfield’s movie. At many points, we see the world through his eyes, quite literally adopting his perspective. This is Renfield’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
The internal strength Hoult brings to the character is a welcomed addition. Renfield spans the history of Dracula lore and has been handled in many different ways, ranging from fragile (Dwight Frye) to completely zany (Peter MacNicol) in other iterations. This time around, Renfield is an active player in the story. He has formidable powers and a voice — he just needs to harness it.
Ultimately, Renfield’s only real struggle as a feature is that it’s trying to do too darn much. Ridley’s script is dense. There are a lot of characters with many motivations. This is a lot to juggle in 93 minutes.
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While this movie is having fun, there are some structural problems here. There are moments where scenes seem to be missing. Plot lines feel sliced and diced, and it’s very likely quite a bit ended on the cutting room floor. There are many interesting characters brought to life by talented actors. Sometimes, “more” isn’t always a bad thing.
However, this isn’t going to be a detractor for everyone. Renfield is a big, bloody hoot. The gore is brash and in your face. Fans of shows like What We Do in Shadows are sure to find a lot to like with Renfield and should run, not walk, to the theaters.
Renfield opens in theaters around the country on April 14, 2023.
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