"Renfield" isn't a complete bust - it has a few good gags, my favorite being the use of footage from the Bela Lugosi "Dracula" movie. There are also a few action sequences that have some punch. Unfortunately, the narrative of this movie is a complete mess. Here are some examples of this:
The narrative and character motivations and actions of this movie are so messy, I think there are three possibilities for what happened: (1) The movie was SEVERELY cut down in the editing room, (2) Major reshoots were ordered by the studio, or (3), both number one or two.
Actually, I think the more likely answer is (3). I can't believe that such a mess of a movie was deemed theatrically releasable. It should have bypassed theaters... as well as streaming services!
- Nicolas Cage only makes a few (brief) appearances in the first half of the movie
- Other characters who disappear with little or no explanation, and reappear much later with little to no explanation as to what they had been doing between their screen appearances.
- Turns in the story and characters that have little to no explanation. For example, it's not clear why TWICE its justified that the crime lord hooligan is released from police custody. Plus, after the second time he's let go, there is the fact that plenty of witnesses saw him commit crimes, and their witnessing would certainly make their way to the press. Also, why does Dracula suddenly disappear upon meeting the crime hooligan, and then later come back to the same spot to continue his conversation with him? Why don't the sister's FBI cronies get involved when proof positive evidence is discovered?
The narrative and character motivations and actions of this movie are so messy, I think there are three possibilities for what happened: (1) The movie was SEVERELY cut down in the editing room, (2) Major reshoots were ordered by the studio, or (3), both number one or two.
Actually, I think the more likely answer is (3). I can't believe that such a mess of a movie was deemed theatrically releasable. It should have bypassed theaters... as well as streaming services!