“Renfield” (2023)

Renfield

Grade: B-

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Renfield is a horror-comedy that (thankfully) doesn’t take itself too seriously but (unfortunately) doesn’t contain enough Count Dracula. A few more notes on Renfield:

Directing:

Renfield benefits from its $65 million budget, and the stylish production value is nice and clean. Likewise, American director Chris McKay does a good job handling the over-the-top action sequences in a fun manner (using both CGI and slow-motion to his advantage).

Acting:

Nicholas Hoult conveys a pleasant likability as the titular servant (he seems inspired by Jack Sparrow-era Johnny Depp), and Nicolas Cage gives a relatively grounded latter-day performance as the world’s most legendary monster. Their dynamic drives the film, but they only share the screen for a few scenes. Sigh. I guess it’s called Renfield for a reason. Elsewhere, Awkwafina does a nice job playing herself, and Ben Schwartz is basically an R-rated Jean-Ralphio.

Writing:

What initially starts as a clever concept — a coming-of-age comedy about Dracula’s reluctant familiar — quickly loses steam when drug cartels and the New Orleans Police Department get involved, which turns the film into a clichéd action film. Too much unnecessary swearing and not enough Renfield/Dracula (which is a far more interesting relationship than the Renfield/Awkwafina romance that the film wants us to care about).

Music:

Renfield is a buddy-comedy-action movie more than anything, and the swashbuckling score by Marco Beltrami backs it up. It’s a serviceable soundtrack that doesn’t distract from the film (e.g., big beat for the action sequences, Transylvanian violin for the “scary” sequences) but doesn’t add a whole lot either.

Ending (SPOILERS):

Renfield has a nice message of self-empowerment and cutting off codependent relationships, but it doesn’t feel the need to account for Renfield’s decades of cold-blooded murder. Then again, this is a campy comedy first and foremost. At least they didn’t leave the door open for a sequel.

“You know when something crazy happens and someone’s like, ‘It’s okay, I’ve seen way worse’? Everything I saw you do today is gonna be my ‘way worse.’” — Rebecca

Why Renfield gets a B-:

Renfield contains some good laughs and committed performances, but the story unfortunately devolves into an uninteresting, action-heavy, crime movie rather than focusing on the legendary characters at its center.

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