The original Universal classic Dracula got me into vampires as a kid, and I wore out the VHS tape and read the book often enough that it literally fell apart. While this would become a lifelong interest of mine, I mainly cared about Dracula and the heroes and didn’t give much thought to Renfield who, while important, was never that interesting. This film changed my mind as not only do we find out that he is a deep and layered person but also that a forgotten “sidekick” can easily carry a modern film. Between eating bugs and kicking the crap out of bad guys to small, nuanced moments of character development, Renfield is a movie I never knew I wanted but found out that I needed.
R. M. Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) has been Dracula’s (Nicolas Cage) faithful servant, companion, and … slave since they first met nearly a century ago. Currently residing in present day New Orleans, Renfield has been tasked with bringing innocent victims to his master who is still recuperating from a near fatal fight with vampire hunters. His quest leads him to meet Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina), a beat cop who is hellbent on taking down The Lobos, a crime family responsible for the death of her father. As both come to the realization that they are in toxic relationships – Renfield with Dracula and Quincey with revenge – they join forces to defeat The Lobos who have partnered with a very vengeful Dracula who is not pleased that his thrall has decided to end their “relationship.”
Nicholas Cage has made a reputation of being a bit kooky, and it almost seems like director Chris McKay told him to go on set and just be himself, and it works perfectly. I have not seen an actor fully enjoy their role this much in a long time, and Cage’s chewing through scenery is wonderful. It’s essentially 90 minutes of his id fully released on screen, and that alone is worth watching.
But the movie is called Renfield and not Dracula, and so we must dive into Hoult’s portrayal of the character. Unlike the one we are used to from the book and classic film, this Renfield has a mind of his own even if he has to constantly cater to the whims of his master. As he comes to grips with the abusive relationship he has with Dracula and the steps and sacrifices he will need to take and make in order to escape it, an unexpected character arc begins, and we get to watch him grow and mature into his own person. It performs this without being heavy handed, but the meaning is deep if you want it to be, and there are messages that will resonate with some in the audience.
While this facet differs heavily from the story established in Dracula, what does stay the same is that Renfield loves to eat bugs, but there’s a reason for it this time! Whenever he devours a life force, he is granted super strength, agility, and fighting skills which he uses to spill enough blood to make Mortal Kombat cringe. Most of the violence is cartoonish and akin to what you would find in that game, but it’s definitely not for the squeamish, so be warned if that kind of stuff churns your stomach.
Renfield is funny, violent, gory, and wildly entertaining, but it also includes a serious story which I don’t think anyone was expecting. It has a lot to say if you want to get analytical but enjoying it as spectacle is just as valid. Just know that you might go in expecting fluff and then walk out realizing you need to have some meaningful conversations with friends and family or turn inward for introspection into your own relationships.
On a serious note, if you or someone you love are a victim in an abusive (which doesn’t always mean physical) relationship, there are resources out there to help. The National Domestic Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 and can be reached at 800-799-7233.