Renfield is an upcoming horror comedy film which is going to focus on Count Dracula and his deranged, fanatically devoted servant Renfield. The film that is a part of the Dark Universe. The film stars Nicholas Cage as Count Dracula, Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, Ben Schwartz, Awkwafina and Brandon Scott Jones. The premise of the film reads, “Count Dracula’s lackey Renfield finds a new lease on life in modern day New Orleans when he falls in love with Rebecca Quincy, a feisty but perennially aggressive traffic cop.” It is a modern day adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1987 novel-Dracula. The film was original supposed to be directed by Dexter Fletcher but due to some issues Chris McKay took over. The film’s screenplay is penned down by Ryan Ridley.
Hoult becomes the sixth actor to portray Renfield on-screen and joins the elite list of actors such as as Alexander Granach, Dwight Frye, Klaus Kinski, Tom Waits and Peter MacNicol. So does the new live action adaptation of Renfield work? Let’s find out what the critics have to say?
Renfield Reviews Roundup – Interesting Enough?
Frank Scheck (Hollywood Reporter) – “Anemic.”
Matthew Lickona (San Diego Reader) – “Robert Kirkman’s story takes its pop psychology seriously, which is what makes its application here so much fun. When Cage bellows, “I’m the real victim here!” anyone who’s ever known a narcissist may find themselves wincing through the grin.” Original Score – 2/5
Moira MacDonald (Seattle Times) – “Even with its brief running time, the movie runs out of steam too quickly, and Awkwafina’s character in particular seems like a first draft.” Original Score: 2.5/4
Owen Gleiberman (Variety) – “”Renfield”… has no mystery, no poetry, no grandeur. It’s a scattershot lark jam-packed with “ideas,” none of which really take hold.”
Kristen Lopez (TheWrap) – ““Renfield” is a great example of how Universal could resurrect its Dark Universe. Take tangential characters or questions audiences have wondered about and find a way to actually explore them.”
Liz Shannon Miller (Consequence) – “Renfield knows exactly what it wants to achieve and does so effectively, anchored by its lead performances and some very enjoyable super-violent action sequences which earn its R rating honestly.” Original Score: B+
Kim Newman (Empire Magazine) – “It’s a horror-comic orgy of gore, with any number of bad guys torn to pieces, but occasionally pauses for poignant moments about the life Renfield lost by submitting to his master and unusual spins on vampire lore.” Original Score: 4/5
Carla Hay (Culture Mix) – “Nicolas Cage’s campy performance as Dracula is the best thing about Renfield, a horror comedy that sometimes gets a little too one-note and manic for its own good. The movie doesn’t take itself seriously, and neither should viewers.”
Kyle Anderson (Nerdist) – “Even the delightfully gruesome set pieces and Nicolas Cage’s Dracula mastery can’t make Renfield more than a very dumb, not-funny comedy, a not-scary horror movie, and a not-exciting action movie.” Original Score: 2/5
Brian Lloyd (entertainment.ie) – “‘Renfield’ lacks teeth, but it’s got Nicolas Cage and that’s enough.” Original Score: 2.5/5
Avi Offer (NYC Movie Guru) – “A repetitive, exhausting and lazy misfire that sorely lacks wit, campiness and imagination. At least Nicolas Cage has fun sinking his teeth into the role of Dracula.”
Sean Mulvihill (Mulviews) – “Whatever movie Nicolas Cage thought he was making is the movie that I would like to see. Too bad it’s not whatever Renfield is.”
Mike Scott (Times-Picayune) – “A gorefest of gleefully cartoonish proportions.” Original Score: 2.5/4
Jeff Nelson (Showbiz Cheat Sheet) – “Renfield instills a fresh twist to the dynamic between Dracula and his familiar, packed with enough blood to please the Dark One himself.” Original Score: 3/5
Renfield is slated to release in theatres near you on 14th April 2023.
If you have any questions regarding Renfield, feel free to ask in the comments below and stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
