Renfield review: A hilarious and haunting horror comedy
By Deepak Kumar
Renfield is a 2023 American horror comedy film that takes inspiration from Bram Stoker’s iconic novel, Dracula. Directed and produced by Chris McKay, the film features a screenplay by Ryan Ridley from a story by Robert Kirkman, who also served as co-producer.
Renfield is led by the renowned actor Nicolas Cage, who portrays the legendary Transylvanian vampire, Dracula. Cage’s character is Renfield’s ill-tempered and narcissistic boss, played by Nicholas Hoult. Awkwafina stars as Rebecca Quincy, an aggressive traffic cop working for the New Orleans Police Department and Renfield’s love interest.
The supporting cast includes Ben Schwartz as Tedward, a mob enforcer, Shohreh Aghdashloo as Bellafrancesca, a matriarch mob boss and Teddy’s mother, Adrian Martinez as Chris, a traffic cop and Rebecca’s co-worker, Brandon Scott Jones as Mark, a support group leader, Jenna Kanell as Carol, Bess Rous as Caitlyn, Camille Chen as Kate, James Moses Black as Captain Browning, Caroline Williams as Vanessa, and Miles Doleac. With such a talented and diverse cast, Renfield promises to be an entertaining and memorable film.
The movie is named after R.M. Renfield, a character from Stoker’s novel who is a patient at a lunatic asylum. The plot revolves around his story but with a comedic twist. Renfield, played by Hoult, is a young lawyer who is sent to Transylvania to help Dracula with some legal issues. However, he soon discovers that there’s more to the Count’s castle than meets the eye.
After much anticipation, the film finally hit theaters in the United States on April 14, 2023, distributed by Universal Pictures. The horror comedy film had its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival on March 30, 2023. While some critics enjoyed the film’s unique take on Dracula and its cast’s performances, others were left wanting more scares from the movie. Despite mixed reviews, Renfield’s release generated buzz among horror and comedy fans alike.
Nicholas Hoult delivers a solid performance as the titular character, showcasing his range as an actor in both comedic and dramatic moments. Awkwafina brings her signature wit and charm to the role of Renfield’s love interest, Lucy. Ben Schwartz and Adrian Martinez provide comedic relief as Renfield’s bumbling colleagues, while Shohreh Aghdashloo adds a touch of gravitas as the asylum’s director.
Renfield: The final verdict
But perhaps the most noteworthy performance in the film is Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Count Dracula. Cage fully embraces the role, delivering a performance that is both menacing and hilarious. He steals every scene he’s in and makes the most of his limited screen time.
Overall, the film is an enjoyable horror comedy that pays homage to Stoker’s Dracula while also putting its own spin on the story. It may not be the scariest or most groundbreaking horror film, but it’s worth a watch for its strong cast and humor.