Renfield

Well, as a properly bloody appetizer, it worked like a charm, but don’t expect much more from it. Cage as Dracula was a perfect casting choice; his over-the-top performance really fit the role, turning it into his own one-man show. But the others didn’t lag behind either, with Awkwafina bringing flawless comedic timing. It’s a bit disappointing, though, that the complicated relationship between Renfield and Dracula was only sketched rather than explored in depth. The action goes all out, that’s true, but the excessive comic book vibe didn’t quite suit me (horror is fully outweighed by outright comedy). So, all in all, it’s a work that won’t offend, but honestly, I don’t need to see it a second time. At least Cage squeezed (or sucked?) the maximum out of it :D For me, it’s 6/10. (04/29/2023)

Renfield has served Dracula for years and allowed himself to be terrorized by him. Now he has a chance to take the things on his hands and finally be happy, only he won't have it easy in a world of corrupt cops, gangsters and angry vampires. Neither will you if you go to the movies. Renfield is an overwrought borefest that doesn't know what it wants to be, so it tries to be a horror movie (doesn't scare), a comedy (doesn't entertain), an action flick (poorly edited) and a psychological drama (doesn't work very well). Oh, and it has Nicolas Cage running on half throttle, so it's not even entertainingly weird, either. A dud of a film, worth seeing if only to watch how things crumble under the makers’ hands. (04/18/2023)

Renfield is simply an unpretentious, unserious and easygoing gag combining dracula, black humour, mafia and a straightforward story into a brisk 90-minute film that was over before I even looked at my watch. Surprisingly, the lead role is stolen by the duo of Nicholas Hoult and Awkwafina, while Nicolas Cage is more of a supporting character, but otherwise it's an "okay" mix of humor, heaps of dynamic action, severed limbs, and cheap fake blood. Renfield is definitely not a blockbuster, on the contrary it's more of a cheap B-movie average, but nobody probably expected an Oscar contestant here, and if you just want to switch off and have nothing to prick at, this is a good choice. That said, I can't help feeling that Renfield is too ordinary, I expected the humour to be much more daring and its overall blandness makes it a (below) average one-off that I won't remember after a week and which I'm currently enjoying, but I probably wouldn't recommend a cinema visit and I would wait for the online version. (04/12/2023)

A surprising romp from start to finish and a great performance by Nicolas Cage as Dracula. This year of vampires looks promising so far, and Renfield can definitely be counted among the best horror comedies, as a little sibling to the excellent Day Shift. The story may be simple, but it's entirely sufficient. We have Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, who looks for food for his master Dracula. In addition, the gangster Teddy Lobo (a brilliantly written and acted character) is on the rampage in the city and the policewoman Awkwafina is trying to destroy his criminal organization. The plot isn't the point, but it's enough that it's presented in an entertaining way and has a great pace. The action scenes are nice, and while they are frantically edited, they are the most important thing to see. The fights are dynamic, physically tough and most importantly very brutal. There is plenty of gore, it's almost comic book-like, nicely over-the-top, with blood flying by the gallon (there's perhaps even more gore here than in the new Evil Dead, so violence lovers will really enjoy a lot of fun and crazy fatalities). Tearing someone's arms off to then use as a murderous spear is simply awesome. In that respect, the film surprised and delighted me a lot, but it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Dracula's make-up is also good, and Cage overacts, stealing scenes for himself. For me, a very entertaining and brutal diversion that I would happily watch again with friends. (04/24/2023)

New Orleans, present day. A bug-eating servant attends group therapy because he’s stuck in a toxic relationship with his narcissistic master in a reverse process of decay. And then he shouts to the world like millions of other Renfields: “I am enough. I deserve happiness!” It might sound good in a few sentences, but the reality is terrible. The grotesque action with a hint of John Wick is boring, the only dirt is in the Transylvanian count’s lair, and the female version of Ken Jeong with emo Holden has nothing to offer. And then there's Nicolas Cage, whose overacting makes me want to shove a dozen cloves of garlic into his mouth. Did he see himself in the mirror while doing that? Oh, right... I expect him in a sequel, where he’ll strap on a triangular fin and start sailing the Barents Sea as the terrifying Dr. Shark. (05/12/2023)