REVIEW: New Comedy Horror, Renfield, Will Have You Shedding That Narcissist In Your Life

Co-producer and director Chris Mckay (The Tomorrow War, The LEGO Batman Movie) brings comedy, action, and gore to Renfield, which stars Oscar winner Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men franchise), and costars Ben Schwartz, Awkwafina, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Adrian Martinez, and Brandon Scott Jones.

Nicholas Hoult takes on the role of R.M. Renfield, Dracula’s century-old assistant who is “entangled” with the world’s biggest and deadliest narcissist, The Prince of Darkness himself, Dracula (Nicolas Cage). Renfield is at the mercy of his demanding boss, which is an understatement. Hoping to make a better way for his family, Renfield decides to ditch real estate and make a deal with Dracula that brings him superhuman power when he digests bugs, yes, the creepy crawly kind that goes squish.

Renfield digests a ton of them throughout the film in order to do his master’s bidding by bringing him all of the dead but warm bodies he can muster. Unbeknownst to Renfield, there was no golden parachute for his family, but rather a trap to be a killer and a cleaner for the most vicious of villains who literally goes bite in the night.

Renfield has had enough and wants out of this gerbil wheel lifestyle of hunting, killing, and wiping up, but he’s clueless about how he would even have the chance to remove himself from his current toxic situation. Dracula’s powers are god-like, and even if he blinks an eye, his razor-sharp shredding teeth are right there waiting to make him change his mind. The apprentice actually takes his obedience to an all-new level when one of the last priests of their kind has Dracula in a spiritual circle that can destroy him, and Renfield shows his loyalty by throwing a monkey wrench which results in Dracula being freed and another really dark full course bloody lunch is received.

It’s not until Renfield comes across New Orleans police officer Rebecca (Awkwafina) in her pursuit of one of the city’s most notorious crime families led by Bellafrancesca Lobo (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and her son Tedward (Ben Schwartz) that he realizes he has a chance to be more than what his boss has labeled him to be when he inadvertently “saves” people. He is sprung with a new level of enlightenment that includes a therapy group and affirmations, and tons of self-love.

The enlightenment doesn’t last long, and one Martha Stewart color-swatching-esque apartment and fashion makeover and sprinkle cookie later, Renfield and Rebecca are staring down not only the Belafrancesca goons but also the very angry and betrayed Dracula.

Nicholas Hoult is the perfect Renfield, he’s charming, charismatic, and perfectly channels the loyal assistant who is having second thoughts. The action and fight scenes were comical but definitely serious and deadly and will give any horror fan one good time at the theater. Nicolas Cage brings every ounce of the legend that he is to Dracula, and his dry wit, humor, and thirst for death was spectacular.

The film’s cinematography and score were incredible and will have you sitting through every last credit. While Awkwafina gave it a good attempt, the essence of her character Rebecca as the gracious and ethical daughter of her slain father and police force captain, seemed lackluster.

Her portrayal seemed contrived, and while she had transformed into a blank slate at the beginning of the film to play the docile but forceful officer, the character seemed all over the place with bits and pieces of sass-talking roles we’ve seen her in before, drop and fall out at whim. Some of the editing was a bit abrupt on her stunts as well.

The chemistry with Renfield as a love interest was forced and not there at all. Cage and Hoult, however, save the film completely, as well as does Rebecca’s successful FBI agent sister, Kate, portrayed by Camille Chen (Game Night), who is a natural on screen. Would have loved to have seen more of Shohreh Aghdashloo and Nicolas Cage’s characters in action, that was the real chemistry.

Renfield is in theaters this Friday, April 14. Check out the trailer above and the special featurette below.