Renfield delivers almost essentially what it promises in the trailer, that is plenty of action, comedy, horror, and an over the top Nicholas Cage performance. If you expect more, then you may be walking away disappointed. Part of me really liked this movie. The highlight is Cage's performance and the visceral elements from this. The action is surprisingly well done, complimented by a surprisingly healthy dose of graphic gore. The comedy is mostly on point. Nicholas Hoult is a charming and endearing lead, while Awkwafina brings her comedic chops and even some swagger to the film as a cop Renfield befriends. The exploration of Dracula and Renfield's relationship is interesting in a psychology 101 sort of way.
The main issue the film has is, beyond it's purely entertaining elements, there's not much to it. The story about Renfield being co-dependent to the narcissistic Dracula is only allowed to go so far, while the film tries to pad things out with an uninteresting crime family subplot that feels tacked on, with it utilizing pretty much every cliche you can think of. Shohreh Aghdashloo, who seems forever typecast to play the matriarch stereotype, isn't given much to do here but chew scenery as a crime family head, while Ben Schwartz plays her somewhat bumbling, somewhat idiotic son with a lack of self-control. Where Ben is typically very funny, here he is hampered by a role that also doesn't do much to break it's cliched confines.
Thankfully, the film is mostly entertaining and let's us spend most of our time with Cage doing what he does best and a very game Hoult, who once again surprises as something of an action hero. For those looking for something purely to be entertained, Renfield is a good way to kill an hour and a half.
The main issue the film has is, beyond it's purely entertaining elements, there's not much to it. The story about Renfield being co-dependent to the narcissistic Dracula is only allowed to go so far, while the film tries to pad things out with an uninteresting crime family subplot that feels tacked on, with it utilizing pretty much every cliche you can think of. Shohreh Aghdashloo, who seems forever typecast to play the matriarch stereotype, isn't given much to do here but chew scenery as a crime family head, while Ben Schwartz plays her somewhat bumbling, somewhat idiotic son with a lack of self-control. Where Ben is typically very funny, here he is hampered by a role that also doesn't do much to break it's cliched confines.
Thankfully, the film is mostly entertaining and let's us spend most of our time with Cage doing what he does best and a very game Hoult, who once again surprises as something of an action hero. For those looking for something purely to be entertained, Renfield is a good way to kill an hour and a half.