Renfield

Director: Chris McKay
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Brandon Scott Jones, Adrian Martinez, Camille Chen, Bess Rous, Jenna Kanell, James Moses Black, William Ragsdale
Running Time: 93 min.
Rating: R

★★★ (out of ★★★★)  

For many, the primary reason to see Chris McKay's horror comedy Renfield was locked into place upon discovering Nicolas Cage would be playing Dracula, donning the iconic cape previously worn by Bella Lugosi, Christopher, Lee and Frank Langella. After Universal's failed attempt at rebooting their movie monster franchise with 2017's The Mummy, casting Cage as the Prince of Darkness seems almost too perfect, as it's just the kind of character this notoriously risk-taking actor can literally and figuratively sink his teeth into. You can also picture him doing backflips reading the script, salivating at the idea of putting his own distinctive spin on a role that lends itself to the kind of weird, wild reinterpretation he specializes in.

As you'd expect, Cage doesn't disappoint, and though it won't lead to big budget sequels or spin-offs, that likely wasn't the intention anyway. After all, the story's emphasis is cleverly placed on Dracula's beleaguered assistant, opting instead to administer just the right amount of Cage, whose fantastical take comes in measured, but memorable doses. The rest falls on his co-stars, who more than hold up their end by continually bringing the laughs. Working from Ryan Ridley's screenplay, McKay balances two seemingly disparate plots with very little fussiness or confusion. And in featuring some humorously exciting action sequences and impressive practical effects, it's 93 minutes seem to fly by at a breakneck pace.

After ninety years, former attorney R.M. Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) has grown tired of serving as Dracula's (Cage) loyal assistant and constantly being at his beckoned call. In exchange for bringing him master victims, he's been granted immortality by his master, gaining super speed and strength when he consumes insects. But when Dracula must recuperates from a brutal attack, the two relocate to New Orleans, as an increasingly fed up Renfield secretly joins a 12-step support group for people stuck in toxic, co-dependent relationships.

Following a warehouse massacre, Renfield finds himself in the crosshairs of Lobo crime family enforcer Teddy (Ben Schwartz), which catches the attention of hot headed N.O.P.D. officer Rebecca Quigley (Awkwafina), whose own father was killed by the Lobos. As Renfield and Rebecca form an uneasy alliance, Dracula concocts a huge plan, further manipulating his assistant. But at some point, Renfield will need to tell Rebecca about his dilemma and eventually summon the courage to break free from Dracula's control.  

While various attempts at bringing Dracula into the modern world have yielded mixed results, this takes a fresh approach by adopting Renfield's point-of-view. Without wasting time getting to business, it dives headfirst into a black-and-white opening flashback sequence that inserts its two leads into 1931's Dracula. As an early indicator of McKay's willingness to take creative leaps and make some unexpected choices, it works, providing a memorable first look at Cage in the part. He still makes this Dracula outrageously his own, but seeing him incorporated into the classic film underlines how good a fit he is, resembling Lugosi at points and even lifting mannerisms from other past portrayals (with a little Quasimodo thrown in).

As Renfield, Hoult plays straight man to Cage's ghoulish creation, faring especially well when his character yearns for a more normal life outside of pleasing his abusive master, which the film's self-help spoof really hammers home. Awkwafina's casting brings an entirely different dynamic to the type of role usually occupied by a safer, less polarizing choice. The gamble pays off, as she shoots off some sarcastically clever one liners while exterminating the bad guys alongside Hoult, with whom she shares some good chemistry. And the always entertaining Ben Schwartz steals his scenes as the loud mouthed, self-proclaimed hitman who wimpily takes orders from his mob boss mom Bellafrancesca (Shohreh Aghdashloo).  

This can all lead to one place, with Renfield seeing the light and attempting to get out from under Dracula's thumb. For Rebecca, it's about cleaning up the streets and avenging her dad's murder. Both intersect in a gory, violent climax that's as comically action packed as everything preceding it. Cage's performance may not be the only thing worth talking about, but it's high on the list, aided in part by the comparable craziness surrounding him. Undeniably odd and not for everyone, Renfield isn't perfect, but fans of the genre will probably have a tough time resisting its unique charms.