Time: 93 Minutes
Age Rating: R16 – Graphic violence, gore & offensive language
Cast:
Nicholas Hoult as Renfield
Nicolas Cage as Dracula
Awkwafina as Rebecca
Ben Schwartz as Tedward Lobo
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Bellafrancesca Lobo
Brandon Scott Jones as Mark
Adrian Martinez as Chris
Director: Chris McKay

I was aware of this movie in its development. Renfield was an upcoming horror comedy from the director of The Lego Batman movie, and it would feature Nicolas Cage as Dracula. I’ve heard middling reactions to the movie, but that probably helped set expectations for me, because I enjoyed it.  

Renfield consists of two very different movies. On one hand, it’s a story about a toxic co-dependent relationship between Renfield and Dracula, the former struggling to break out of it. The parts where it examines co-dependency and narcissism are handled oddly sincerely, so that’s commendable at least. It’s by far the best plot line in the movie. However, this film is also about a cop played by Awkwafina trying to take down a crime family, and the film tries to combine these two plotlines. I’d like to say that it’s a small part of the movie but it’s very prominent, and it’s annoying when it comes back and takes away time from the Renfield and Dracula things. When its not focused on those two characters, it falls flat. The plot on the whole is just rather bland. At 90 minutes, Renfield feels like a first draft, the script needed further work and ironing out. Still, it is an entertaining and watchable horror comedy. Not every joke works, but some moments do.

Nicholas Hoult makes for a charming lead, working in the comedic aspects as well as in the emotional drama. Despite much of the movie’s flaws, he does help ground it somewhat and makes the story watchable. Of course, a big reason that people are watching is Nicolas Cage playing Dracula. He is clearly having a ton of fun here, hamming it up in an eccentric and hilarious performance. He nails the comedic beats and absurdity, while also getting some moments to pay tribute to classic Dracula. It makes you wish that he played Dracula in a more serious movie. I also wish that he was in the movie a lot more, especially considering that he’s the main villain and the biggest selling point. Hoult and Cage are also really good in their scenes together. Meanwhile, Awkwafina tries her best, but the writing for her character just isn’t there. The comedy doesn’t work, and I really didn’t buy the forced relationship between her and Hoult. 

Chris McKay’s direction is a mixed bag. There are some really good makeup and prosthetic work. Also the scenes when it went back to olden Victorian times with the period costumes and sets and pays tribute to horror classics, those were good and I wish we got that movie instead. There are some action scenes too and they can be fun, but occasionally they are really over edited. The violence and gore are really over the top, unfortunately they rely heavy on very fake looking CGI for it.

Despite its potential including some good performances (mainly from Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage), Renfield is a rather generic and unfocused horror comedy, which still has its entertaining moments. If you are just wanting a movie in which Nicolas Cage plays Dracula, you might be a little disappointed, but will probably get something out of it. I am still glad I watched it, but it definitely could’ve been a lot better.