It’s been a tough road for Nicholas Hoult in the film industry, which is a real shame because he could have been the Hugh Grant of his generation (and who wouldn’t want to be like Hugh Grant?). But fear not, because in “Renfield,” he finally gets to show off his comedic talents, along with some killer charisma. Sure, the movie itself is disposable and goofy, but at least it’s got heart…throbbing (get it?).
There’s definitely a romantic comedy element hiding in “Renfield.” Hoult plays a World War I lawyer who heads to Transylvania to try and make some money in real estate (as one does). He meets Count Dracula (played by Nicolas Cage, who else?), who promises eternal life in exchange for being his servant (totally normal transaction, right?). After finding himself in New Orleans, Renfield must find some new victims for his vampire boss (who has a thing for innocent people, nuns, tourists, and cheerleaders) while dealing with codependency in self-help meetings. Oh, and he also meets a police officer named Rebecca (Awkwafina) who’s involved in taking down a local crime family. Sounds like a typical rom-com, right?
Directed by Chris McKay and with a script from Ryan Ridley and Robert Kirkman, “Renfield” is basically one giant inside joke. Renfield’s clever narration is constantly interrupted by scenes of gory violence (think squishy, spurting, head-exploding mayhem). While the violence grows more repetitive and monotonous as the film speeds along, there are some truly funny moments throughout (including some great jabs at ska music and terrible bosses). At the end of the day, it’s just a silly pulp-fest that’s 90 minutes of mindless entertainment.
Despite Hoult’s valiant efforts, the real star of “Renfield” is definitely Cage. He’s been making the most of poking fun at his own onscreen persona (just look at “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”). While many actors have played Dracula, Cage puts his own spin on the character. He camps it up behind gross green makeup and fake fangs, giving a performance that’s more Marilyn Manson auditioning for “Nosferatu” than Bela Lugosi. It’s all totally ridiculous and perfect for Cage’s acting style, which has always been more tailored to old German expressionism than American realism.
“Renfield” is a cheesy, over-the-top, and often hilariously stupid movie that won’t stretch your brain cells too far. While it’s not perfect and the visuals can be a bit much (seriously, it looks like it was filmed with a garden hose), it’s a fun way to kill some time. Plus, who wouldn’t want to watch Nicolas Cage pretend to be a vampire for an hour and a half? “Renfield” is rated R and has plenty of bloody violence, gore, strong language, and drug use, so maybe keep the kids at home for this one.