X
- 2023
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 33 m
- 2023
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 33 m
Summary In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) is the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a l...
Directed By: Chris McKay
Written By: Ryan Ridley, Robert Kirkman, Ava Tramer
- 2023
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 33 m
- 2023
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 33 m
Renfield
53
6.4
Where to Watch
Summary In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) is the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a l...
Directed By: Chris McKay
Written By: Ryan Ridley, Robert Kirkman, Ava Tramer
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 49 Critic Reviews
53
33% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
61% Mixed
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
6% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 49 Critic Reviews
53
33% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
61% Mixed
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
6% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Director McKay seems to understand that special balance between terror and camp, and it’s that which makes Renfield, which premiered this week at the Overlook Film Festival, such a delight to watch.
Though Nicholas Hoult is charming as he struggles to find inner strength, Renfield lives or dies by Nic Cage camping it up. And he delivers.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 166 User Ratings
6.4
48% Positive
80 Ratings
80 Ratings
41% Mixed
68 Ratings
68 Ratings
11% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 166 User Ratings
6.4
48% Positive
80 Ratings
80 Ratings
41% Mixed
68 Ratings
68 Ratings
11% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
Nicolas Cage is back! Funny, feel-good horror comedy with the great, highly talented Nicolas Cage. Unfortunately, his last few films weren't that great. The gags are effective, the story is good, the CGI's are acceptable. Hope there is a sequel!
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I find Renfield a good comedy horror movie. I like Nicholas Cage as Dracula and as a matter fact I would like to see Nicholas Cage play Dracula again in another Universal Horror movie bringing Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf Man, Mummy, Invisible Man, The Creature from the Lagoon, Mad Doctor and Igor in a new Universal Monster Movie called the Monster Mash next year in 2024.
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A mixed bag of elements, Renfield resonates with eclectic vibes. There was a potential for a huge hit here, but there’s just occasional intrigue and leisure that relaxes the audience to a considerable extent without coming close to greatness.
The trouble with Renfield, though, is the fact that it’s called Renfield and not Dracula. Snivelling when not stiff, the title character is a bore, as is Hoult’s shoulder-shrug of a performance.
It’s bouncy, clever, amiable, and idiosyncratic, but its virtues seem inseparable from its over-all inertness and triviality.
It’s all an approximation of fun, mirth in tiny portions, amusement of the thinnest variety.
The worst film since Babylon, this surfeit of loud, obnoxious, violent junk audaciously claims to call itself a vampire farce, but there isn’t a genuine shred of originality anywhere in sight and it’s as witty as an ambulance with a flat tire.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Renfield is just a regular guy, except that he worked as Dracula’s assistant for years. Now, he finally wants to get out of the toxic relationship and move on with his life. This dark and violent comedy was directed by Chris McKay, and written by Ryan Ridley and Robert Kirkman.
THINGS I LIKED:
I attended a press screener at a theater for a different movie where the trailer for Renfield showed. The audience was fairly quiet at the beginning, but as soon as Nicolas Cage appeared on the big screen, the entire audience burst out in delighted laughter. Without his over-the-top, ridiculous performance, this movie wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining as it is. He said that playing Dracula was a lifelong dream of his. He played a vampire in one of his earlier movies back in the 1980s, Vampire’s Kiss, so I guess you could say that this kind of role is in his BLOOD. ha ha
The entertaining cast also includes Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Adrian Martinez, Brandon Scott Jones, Miles Doleac, and Shohreh Aghdashloo. They all do an excellent job.
I wonder if it got confusing on filming days to have two leading men named Nicolas (Cage and Hoult).
If nothing else, it’s a new take on the old story of Dracula. Director Chris McKay explained that he wanted this movie to be a sequel to Tod Browning’s Dracula in 1931! The marketing was supposed to reflect that connection, but it didn’t actually work.
The castle seen in the movie is the same one used in the family-friendly movie Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang! It’s called Neuschwanstein, located in Bavaria, Germany. Guess what? Nicholas Cage actually owns a few castles in real life!
It’s a pulp version of vampires with a lot of dark humor and comedic schtick. It’s also extremely campy, so be prepared.
Shout-out to Wiccan Tumblr. Ha ha
The themes and life lessons are simple and powerful.
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
The film is extremely violent and gory.
There are quite a few dark scenes at night that will make viewing difficult when watched on a small streaming device.
The ending is vague enough that it leaves a crack open for a sequel. Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad idea?
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
This movie is not appropriate for children.
LOTS of over-the-top brutal, bloody, and gory violence
Profanity, including lots of F-bombs
Disgusting images
Destruction
Vampire lore
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[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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Production Company
Universal Pictures,
Skybound Entertainment
Release Date Apr 14, 2023
Duration 1 h 33 m
Rating R
Tagline Sucks to be him
Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Win & 5 Nominations
Golden Scythe Horror Awards
• 4 Nominations
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
