Review: Renfield

Our J.P. reviews the comedy/horror film, “Renfield,” which stars Nicolas Cage as Count Dracula, Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, and Ben Schwartz.

Renfield
Universal

  • Directed by Chris McKay
  • Screenplay by Ryan Ridley
  • Story by Robert Kirkman
  • Based on Characters by Bram Stoker
  • Produced by Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst, Sean Furst, Chris McKay
  • Starring Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Adrian Martinez, Shohreh Aghdashloo

Studio Synopsis:

Evil doesn’t span eternity without a little help. In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men franchise) stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.

Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult)
(from left) Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay. (Michele K. Short / Universal Pictures)

J.P.’s Take:

Life as an indentured servant is especially dreary when you’re Dracula’s loyal henchman. For decades, we’ve witnessed Dracula’s controlling ways, while “Renfield” sees the titular character breaking away from his life of servitude.

Yet, Renfield’s past wasn’t always that of a delirious minion. Robert Montague Renfield was a lawyer with big dreams of becoming one of the most successful lawyers in history. He had a budding family with a wife and daughter. When he encounters the wealthy and powerful Count Dracula (Nicolas Cage), his former life ceases to exist. Years and years go by, and Renfield has had enough of his boss’s narcissistic tirades. He ventures out to escape the toxic co-dependency with the prince of darkness and start life anew.

“Renfield” is a mixed bag of nuts, combining mellow drama with horror and comedy to exploit the character’s deranged antics. Renfield’s undying loyalty to the night stalker, Dracula, is cause for some resentment and penned-up aggression, calling for cartoonishly gory violence dispersed throughout the 92-minute run time.

Tedward Lobo (Benjamin Schwartz), Bellafrancesca Lobo (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and Dracula (Nicolas Cage, back to camera)
(from left) Tedward Lobo (Benjamin Schwartz), Bellafrancesca Lobo (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and Dracula (Nicolas Cage, back to camera) in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay (Michele K. Short / Universal Pictures)

Renfiled enlists the aid of a self-help group, as he is reluctant to share his life story. When he is finally ready to spill the gruesome details, his story is perceived metaphorically, leaving him even more apprehensive. Chuckles formulate due to the miscommunication on their part, as he expressed before that they wouldn’t understand.

Yet, Renfield is called back by his master to tend to his wounds and help him return to full strength. After a near-fatal battle with a Catholic Priest and a vampire slayer, he was almost burned alive. Now hiding out in an abandoned hospital, Renfield must fulfill his master’s bloodlust by bringing him more bodies to feed from. Dracula’s picky appetite beguiles Renfield to bring him innocent and pure-hearted people, which sparks more chuckles. Dracula barks at Renfield to bring him a bus full of cheerleaders or some nuns.

Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) and Rebecca (Awkwafina)
(from left) Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) and Rebecca (Awkwafina) in Renfield. (Michele K. Short / Universal Pictures)

Amidst the self-help group and the beckoning of his master, Renfield goes on a killing spree. In the process, he stumbles on a heinous plot by a crime family called the Lobos, who are on the verge of becoming the most feared gang in New Orleans. The act of Renfield ripping off the limbs of his attackers and using them as weapons is quite bloody, yet laughable. Buckets of blood spew from his enemies like fire hydrants as he puts a beat down on them like in “WWE SmackDown.” Although these moments feel slapstick, they are creatively violent.

“Renfield” also plays up the mellow drama with an awkward love affair with a local traffic cop, Rebecca (Awkwafina), who discovers who he truly is. He realizes he has a purpose and strength as he battles his master and the Lobos gang. He even confides in the self-help group over time.

Director Chris McKay (“The Tomorrow War,” “The Lego Batman Movie,” “Robot Chicken”) connects the dots, while splicing in vintage clips from the original “Dracula” (1931) film and placing Nicolas Cage’s likeness in scenes where Bela Lugosi would be. This gives context to the life and times of the Dracula many horror enthusiasts know and love.

Director Chris McKay and Nicolas Cage
(from left) Director Chris McKay and Nicolas Cage on the set of Renfield. (Michele K. Short / Universal Pictures)

I can appreciate the cast for staying true to their characters:

  • Nicolas Hoult (“X-Men: First Class,” “Jack the Giant Slayer”) can slip into the dramatic young Robert Montague Renfield when the drama beings and into action-hero mode when the fighting starts. He does both with ease.
  • Nicolas Cage nearly steals the scene with his Dr. Evil impression of Dracula. Cage hams it up as the narcissistic dark lord with amusing quirks and speech. And he enjoyed every moment of it.
  • Awkwafina (“The Farewell,” “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) does what she does best: fire off a sarcastic montage of jokes while adding a bit of feistiness to her role of Rebecca Quincy.
  • Ben Schwarz (“The Afterparty,” “House of Lies,” “Parks and Recreation”) lays it on thick as the obnoxious Lobos gang leader Tedward “Teddy” Lobo.
  • I love Shohreh Aghdashloo’s commanding vocal tone as Lobos mob boss and Teddy’s mother, Bellafrancesca Lobo.

Rounding out the cast are Brandon Scott Jones as self-help guru Mark and Adrian Martinez as Chris, Rebecca’s co-worker and traffic cop.

Provided you know Dracula’s backstory, you may find some jokes hit their marks. At other times the comedy is a bit subversive and may fly over your head. All in all it’s a decent, silly, blood-soaked, heartstring tugger that got better towards the end.

“Renfield” will become another modern B-movie cult classic in its time. I can say I actually enjoyed it for what it was.

Official Site: Renfield

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