'Renfield' A Review

Renfield is a horror action comedy about Dracula's titular lackey. The movie opens on a montage of Renfield(Nicholas Hoult) meeting Count Dracula(Nicolas Cage) over a business deal but then becoming his familiar. Flash forward to present day Renfield is in New Orleans with a recuperating Dracula. Renfield attends co-dependent 12th step meetings and tries to come to grips with his unending servitude. When rounding up Dracula's latest meal(with add of his 'gift' - eating bugs makes him strong) he encounters cop Rebecca Quincy(Awkwafina) and gets entangled with the local crime family.

Hoult brings his bizarre, breezy, innocence to this comedic bloodbath in a beautiful way. It's a tight rope in tone and Hoult anchors it perfectly. He's able to sell the excellent, gruesome action with an legitimate emotional journey, it's impressive. This paired with Cage's fresh go-for-broke take on the oft seen character focusing on physicality and humor is really delicious. The two give very distinct turns and have great chemistry. Awkwafina is always a joy to see onscreen but here is somewhat hamstrung by the fact that she operates, in essence, like the straight man. A bit of a bizarre choice giving the highest profile comedian in the cast the least amount of comedy, but she's still great. The other stand out is Ben Schwartz as the bungling crime family scion, he clearly relishes the chance to break bad but doesn't sacrifice any of the humor and doesn't get bogged down with any badass pretentions. The supporting cast are all solid particularly Brandon Scott Jones as the support group leader although a fair amount of his best jokes are pooched in the trailer.

Visually it's very lush, very neon and New Orleans dusk with some impeccable set design particularly in Dracula's and the crime families layers and Renfield's pastel filled apartment. The action scenes are thrilling, propulsive, with genuinely funny flourishes of gore. It all really works.

A fresh fun take on a classic character, an incredible cast having a ball which translates to the viewing experience.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

See It.