**Caution. Spoilers ahead**
While Dracula isn’t Nicolas Cage’s first vampire role [1988’s Vampire’s Kiss], it certainly seems to be the one he is destined for. McKay’s one-hour-and-thirty-three-minute modern take on the classic tale is the perfect vehicle for Cage, allowing for a fun, wacky, instant cult classic right up the actor’s alley.
Renfield is the latest film directed by Chris McKay [The Tomorrow War, Robot Chicken]. If you’re not a fan of horror flicks, don’t fret. The movie offers plenty of blood and gore for diehards but in an over-the-top, dismembered-bodies-flying, action-packed, entertaining way. You won’t be getting as much fear and fangs as you will a fun twist on the folklore.
While Cage is captivating on screen as Dracula, this movie centers around the Count’s familiar, Robert Montagu Renfield, and his co-dependent, unhealthy relationship with the metaphoric (and literal) bloodsucker. Nicholas Hoult does a compelling job with the titular character. The modern vampire tale opens in the past with Dracula in a fiery bind as Renfield steps in to help, dooming himself and others to decades of murderous torture. As Renfield is powered by bugs and can survive in the daylight, he spends years delivering fresh bodies to Drac, reluctantly reviving him to his former all-powerful state.
The movie gives proper nods to Bela Lugosi in Dracula [1931] and Lon Chaney in London After Midnight [1927] but veers from the formula as the pair settle in modern-day New Orleans, where Renfield finds his morality in a support group for people stuck in toxic relationships with narcissists. The laugh-out-loud moments begin almost instantly when we see Renfield surrounded by others opening up about their feelings in a church meeting headed by the very funny and overly friendly Mark, played by Brandon Scott Jones [CBS’ Ghosts]. As Renfield uses the support group to reason with his brutal ways, he also uses it to seek Dracula’s next meal, pursuing vengeance for his friends by targeting their victimizers and ultimately leading him on this hero’s journey.
While Dracula remains hidden away in his lair, regaining his strength and plotting world domination, Renfield frequents a local bar, where he spends most of his time with his thoughts. This is where Ryan Ridley’s script takes a turn, modernizing the Robert Kirkman story into a mesh of gory crimefighting action sequences with an underlying love story between Hoult’s character and Awkafina’s Rebecca Quincy – a beat cop fighting against a corrupt police department and the Lobo family. The crime syndicate is led by matriarch Ella [Shohreh Aghdashloo from The Expanse] and her son Teddy [Ben Schwartz from Parks and Recreation], who hilariously leads his gang of henchmen into uncharted undead waters.
Renfield is quickly smitten with Rebecca after witnessing her unshakable ability to stand up for herself. Inspired, he makes some cheery home renovations and gives his dated look a GAP-style makeover, lightening the mood as their connection turns into a flirtatious buddy-cop kind of partnership.
The film is fueled by witty banter and kickass fight scenes. While underused, Cage gloriously embraces the hilarity that can come from being a self-aware, narcissistic vampire from another century. Hoult is sweetly endearing as this new version of Renfield. He is perfectly cast, bringing an element of charm that plays nicely as he dangles between the two worlds. And Awkafina adds an entirely different element to the mix. Relying heavily on her comedic excellence, she sets a strong tone for the ensemble. Some scenes call to mind 1992’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer [with Kristy Swanson, Paul Reubens, and Luke Perry]. The story is solid and original. It’s not afraid to go over the top, leaning into the kind of campiness that makes a great cult classic. The larger-than-life characters are all extremely relatable. The choreography in the fight scenes is incredibly entertaining, and the CGI gore is comedically top-notch.
Renfield is a fun cinematic experience that brings the genre a fresh twist. McKay adds a unique vision to the vampire genre, creating a new classic that is a visual treat for audiences, while the chemistry between Cage and Hoult creates a dynamic on-screen duo. The film’s pacing is also spot-on, with a perfect blend of suspense, humor, and action that keeps viewers engaged throughout the entire runtime.
Universal Pictures’ Renfield goes light on the horror and heavy on the comedy. All in all, it’s an enjoyable treat. I wouldn’t be surprised if it spawned a series. The movie hits theaters on April 14.
