Robert Montague Renfield has been Count Dracula’s servant for decades. After yet another (failed) attempt by vampire hunters to kill him, Dracula must regain his strength and find a new home. Renfield chooses New Orleans, where he wants to start a new life, free from the Master’s chains.
The variations on the vampire theme are virtually endless, and when the protagonist is the Count par excellence, the allure of nobility helps. The idea of centring a film on one of the secondary characters of Bram Stoker’s novel by giving him dignity and a backstory is intriguing. Telling it in a romantic comedy action horror vein even more so. Renfield is an exciting hybrid that does not, thankfully, want to take itself seriously.
Instead, director Chris McKay pushes the irony and indulges in liberating, cathartic splatter with a cartoonish flavour. The task is well done, although it lacks some consistency from a writing point of view; there are frequent smiles but no peaks.
RENFIELD ON LETTERBOXD
The film’s high gear is thanks to the cast, starting with a fantastic Nicolas Cage in the shape of Dracula, a role that was in the destiny of this too-long underrated actor. Nicholas Hoult, after The Menu, confirms himself as a talented actor with excellent prospects, Awkwafina is likeable and energetic, and Ben Schwartz, an actor well-known to U.S. television audiences, is a delightful surprise.
