Chris McKay directs Nicholas’s Cage and Hoult in this alternative look at the worlds most famous vampire, Dracula.
Hoult takes on the title role of Robert Montague Renfield, the Counts long suffering familiar and general dogs’ body, who after centuries of serving his unscrupulous boss longs for a more fulfilling life. Prowling the city of New Orleans for prey to sustain his ailing boss, Renfeild unwittingly foils a robbery and finds a new lease of life as an unlikely hero, falling for Awkwafina’s aggressive traffic cop Rebecca in the process.
Cage is at his OTT best as the Count, but finds his screen time limited as he spends the first half of the film convalescing from a particularly brutal encounter with sunlight.
Hoult is the traditional bumbling Brit, expertly channeling peak Hugh Grant (having worked with the British actor in his 2002 breakthrough About a Boy) The film itself is a strange mix of comedy, gory horror and action set pieces, with none of those elements integrating very well with one another.
It’s as a comedy where the film works best. Renfields interactions with his master are littered with laugh out loud moments. At one point, dismayed by the standard of prey his servant is delivering, the count demands Nuns or a Bus load of Cheerleaders for his supper! Renfield’s regular support meetings, for people in controlling relationships, are also a real highlight, with his fellow group members not quite grasping the severity of the servant’s situation.
Failing to capitalise on these comedic strengths is the films downfall.
The usually energetic Awkwafina is hamstrung by the script from Ryan Ridley, which boggs her down in a police corruption sub plot, resulting in a dialled down performance lacking in her usual verve.
Ben Swartz also features and has a blast as Teddy Lobo, a hapless mafia gangster and the films secondary villain. As the film pulls further away from the lightness, it becomes a bit of a slog, full of over long violent set pieces and indiscriminate slaughter.
There is definitely fun to be had here and the performances are good, but as the focus shifts towards action and gore, it will leave audiences longing for more laughs. On paper this had the potential to be an excellent horror comedy in the vein of Shaun of the dead. However, Renfield is never quite as much fun as it could’ve been and is ultimately a bit disappointing.
⭐️⭐️
Paul Steward
@grittster
17/04/23