Nicolas Cage might not be the first actor you think of when envisaging Dracula, but he is an unforgettable and hilarious Count in this over-the-top comedy, well paired with Nicholas Hoult.
Opening at a support group for those living with narcissistic personalities in their lives, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) is the underling of Dracula (Nicolas Cage) who is trying to learn how to live with his demanding and violent boss. In search of a better life, things take a turn as he becomes involved with the mob of New Orleans and police officer Rebecca (Awkwafina), who he starts to develop feelings for.
Director Chris McKay does a solid job of balancing the comedy and horror of the film, despite a mediocre script by Ryan Ridley and Robert Kirkman that sidelines its best characters and takes unnecessary turns in its story. It feels bland in its execution and its character arcs.
Unfortunately, Cage isn’t on screen as much as one would like, and as such the film suffers without his use. Hoult is the clueless minion who plays into his naive Britishness in the right amounts, however, fails to really capture the attention of the audience, even when he’s engaging in extreme, violent conflicts or engaging in funny dialogue. Scenes with Hoult and Awkwarfina are some of the strongest in the film, even if she too is underused.
Renfield feels like a Tarantino movie without the depth or the compelling main character, and even when heads roll, it doesn’t quite stick the landing every time. Knowing the potential of the story and how the modernization of such a classic character could be, there are more losses than wins with Renfield.
Eden Caceda 