Movie Review: Renfield

© Universal Pictures

The world doesn't deserve Nicolas Cage's Dracula.
by Patrick Regal

Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Adrian Martinez, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Rating: ★★★

It's modern day New Orleans. Police officer Awkwafina, avenging her father's death at the hands of a crime syndicate, arrests mob enforcer (and heir to the crime family) Ben Schwartz on a drug bust. Once again weaseling his way out of it by paying off the corrupt cops, he decides to send a message to Awkwafina by blindsiding her one night, goons and all,  with the hope of scaring her off the case.

As he threatens her at gunpoint, you turn to your date and say, "Isn't this movie about Dracula?"

Yes, you are reading the right review. But Renfield is Renfield and not Dracula for a reason: the Prince of Bats is but a guest star in a modern retelling of his most loyal sidekick, Robert Montague Renfield.

Director Chris McKay's latest outing follows Nicholas Hoult's Renfield after countless decades of serving the Count, tired of the nomadic lifestyle that comes with running from your past. The latest leg of their journey has landed them in New Orleans, where they cross paths with those very cops, mobsters, and even a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People.

His lack of direction sees him attending a codependency support group, where he discovers that perhaps he might just have some power, both literal and figurative, without his demanding boss.

Nicholas Hoult's most memorable performances see him in supporting roles, but he leads this film with ease and polish. It's Nicolas Cage as Dracula, however, who steals the show - because of course he does. Cage is known for his singular and distinctive brand of weirdo and it's a perfect match for the eccentric Dracula. In the tradition of great horror villains you want more and more from (like Hellraiser's Pinhead or Silence of the Lambs' Hannibal Lecter), Cage's Dracula isn't nearly on screen enough.

But that's because it's not Cage's movie (as much as I wish it was) or really a horror movie at all, though it does take advantage of both things. Above all, it's an action comedy that sinks its teeth into both of those genres.

The comedy is generally effective, if a bit overcooked. Just about every line attempts a joke and every scene ends with a comedic button. It probably results in the same amount of laughs as most successful comedies, though it takes two or three times as many swings in the process.

The cast is one that knows its way around a joke, however, with or without Ryan Ripley's screenplay. Cage uses his characteristic charm to subvert some vampiric expectations, Awkwafina's comedy skills are long underrated, and Ben Schwartz is one of our very best silly little goofs.

The action is equally excessive, with enough violence, blood, blood-sucking, decapitations, cold-blooded murders of innocent people, and Mortal Kombat-esque fight scenes that'll make you laugh at the sheer excess, if not openly gawk at the insanity. It's definitely not your grandma's Dracula (though it does pay enough homage to Bela Lugosi's incarnation).

© Universal Pictures

They mix the comedy and action well, finding a great balance between the two. And that's how Chris McKay's film flies high: by being technically proficient in most respects. It flows well, with respect to the basic story structure that seems to be a dying breed. It's got enough laughs to catch you off-guard in the rare attempts at creepy. Fun costuming and terrifying practical makeup flesh it all out. Aside from Mitchell Amundsen falling prey to the green sludge that has infected modern moviemaking's cinematography, there's little to complain about when it comes to just about anything in front of or behind the camera. Some things may be more exciting (Cage, the special effects makeup) while others are more serviceable (Hoult, an umpteenth joke about drinking blood), but it's a good time that easily finds itself in can't complain territory.

I must admit that I didn't expect to say that, as I did my fair share of complaining before seeing the film. A new Dracula film with the inspired casting of Nic Cage seemed like a match made, but the modern setting bothered me. Dracula works well already and the last thing Hollywood needs is more irony, especially more irony that makes a mockery of things people already like and would prefer to be left alone, like their literary classics.

Though it does flirt with that, it largely stays away from the easy vampire jokes, the low-hanging fruit. It has fun with the Dracula stuff, for sure, but really finds success in making its own fun. Fun it is, from the genre-bending to the wacky performances to the fun it just seems to be having. It's a fun that's infectious.

Renfield has a run time of 1 hour 33 minutes and is rated R for bloody violence, some gore, language throughout and some drug use.