Renfield Movie Review

Renfield (2023)

Rent Renfield on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Ryan Ridley (screenplay by), Robert Kirkman (screen story by), Ava Tramer  (additional material, uncredited)
Directed by: Chris McKay
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
Renfield, the tortured aide to his narcissistic boss Dracula, longs for a life away from the Count.

Verdict
It's a surprisingly deep and thoughtful approach to Dracula that focuses on his exploited assistant. This is also ridiculous and over the top. It's better than I expected it to be and quite clever at times, and Cage had to have a lot of fun with this role. This has a lot of ideas and jokes, but the weak story brings it down.
Watch It.

Review
This focuses on Dracula's (Nicolas Cage) assistant, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult). Dracula has been done many times, but I like this angle that manages to find the humor in the horror. It starts with a dependent addictive relationship therapy group. At first you think Renfield is seeking help, but he uses this group to find victims for Dracula. Renfield doesn't feel bad sacrificing terrible partners.

Nicholas Hoult plays Renfield

Renfield's victim pool is what kick starts the plot of the movie, when an abduction goes wrong and a ridiculous hitman that's more like a cartoon attacks Renfield. This fight is what brings a police officer, Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina) into the plot. A contrived encounter that could only happen in a movie brings Renfield and Quincy together.

Cage had to have fun in this. He chews the scenery in every scene. Dracula decides to take over the world, which ties in well with the plot. While Dracula schemes, Renfield finally takes tips from his support group and seeks empowerment. He gets an apartment and changes his wardrobe. Dracula finds him, and I love the door mat joke. The mat reads "Welcome, Come On In," which allows Dracual into Renfield's apartment.

Nicolas Cage plays Dracula

I like the thought put into this movie, from how Renfield powers up to when it happens. This is such a silly trip, but tying it to the emotional abuse from Dracula instantly makes us sympathize with Renfield even if he has killed for Dracula. Renfield wants to end the relationship, and that depth makes him easy to relate to outside of any other characterization. With this depth, this is still an incredibly silly movie. Most of that is due to the portrayal of Dracula. This has a lot of good moments, but the plot as a whole is weak. It exists just to tie the scenes together.