Have you wondered what happened to Dracula’s minion? Did you want to see a comic-book style movie about it? Need more crazy Nick Cage in your life? We have a Halloween treat for you!
Renfield (2023)
Cast and Crew
Director: Chris McKay
Writers: Ryan Ridley, Robert Kirkman
Nicholas Hoult as Renfield
Nicolas Cage as Dracula
Awkwafina as Rebecca
Ben Schwartz as Tedward Lobo
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Bellafrancesca Lobo
Brandon Scott Jones as Mark
Adrian Martinez as Chris
Camille Chen as Kate
Bess Rous as Caitlyn
Jenna Kanell as Carol
Danya LaBelle as Karla
Rhonda Johnson Dents as Sharon
Christopher Matthew Cook as Bob
Michael P. Sullivan as Weird Kevin
Rosha Washington as Trevante
James Moses Black as Captain Browning
T.C. Matherne as Kyle
Caroline Williams as Vanessa
Marcus Lewis as Apache Joe
Derek Russo as Brice
Marvin Ross as Sal
Premise
Renfield, Dracula’s henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum for decades, longs for a life away from the Count, his various demands, and all of the bloodshed that comes with them. (From IMDB)
High Point
The premise and establishing story for the movie is done well. A flashback of Nicholas Cage as the classic monster, and initial fight scenes, telling you that this isn’t a movie to be taken seriously.
Low Point
There is a sub-plot for Rebecca’s (Awkwafina’s) character, and it feels as though it should be more important, but it ultimately serves no point.
The Scores:
Originality: 2/6 Dracula has been done to death1, but this also is just a regular comic-book story. It felt like a story written about any major villain and a henchmen, but when the rights for that fell through, they just changed the post to be about public domain characters.
Effects: 5/6 The effects are standard for schlocky horror/gore movies, but given the subject matter, it works for this film.
Acting: 5/6 It seems like everyone is recognizable, at least to regular comic and sci-fi fans. Nicholas Cage is Nicholas Cage, but somehow not as over the top as he was in previous vampire movies.
Emotional Response: 3/6 It was fun, but it does not leave one concerned for the story or characters. The gore and horrific violence feels more cartoonish than startling.
Story: 4/6 This is a popcorn flick, so the bar wasn’t set particularly high, but it does manage to clear it.
Production: 4/6 The film turned out coherent and well put together, but a trip to Wikipedia makes it seems like things behind the scenes weren’t as well put together.
Overall: 4/6 This feels like a comic book movie. It’s gory, but not a deep movie.
In total, Renfield (2023) receive 27/42
October Countdown
Oct. 1: Tales of Halloween (2015)
Weekend of Oct. 7/8: Tomb of Ligeia (1964)
Weekend of Oct. 14/15: Hell Baby (2013)
Satan Wants You (2023)
Weekend of Oct. 21/22: Last Night in Soho (2021)
Weekend of Oct. 28/29: Anime Explorations: Vampire Hunter D (1985)
October 31: Renfield (2023)
Haunted House (2023)
Tarantula (1955)
1Pun fully intended.
The GF and I watched this a few nights ago, mostly because a couple years back we were in New Orleans for a conference for her work, and were a block down from Mulates which was closed off overnights for filming. At least now we know why there were so many black Escalades parked on the street.
(Sadly no celebrity sightings or anything, the actual filming was presumably being done while we slept.)
A bit more blood and squick than she might have preferred, but she’s /very/ sensitive to such things. Otherwise, definitely got a few laughs.