Renfield ★★★
FANTASY (2023)
Directed by: Chris McKay
InterpretationsCast: Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Aquafina

Renfield follows the Earl into eternity, taking care of his every need, but now he’s ready to end his co-dependency with the help of an impulsive cop.

After dozens of roles, an Oscar and several Golden Blackberries, it’s time for Nicolas Cage, one of the most idiosyncratic actors of his generation, to join the Count Dracula list. The originality here is that the famous vampire from the Carpathians is not the main character of the story, in the center of which is his … servant.

Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) follows Dracula into eternity, taking care of all his needs: shelter from daylight, a comfortable coffin and, of course, fresh human sacrifices to satisfy his master’s blood needs. In return, he also enjoys a portion of the latter’s immense power. However, having reached the present day, Renfield is now ready to put an end to this co-dependent relationship with the help of an impulsive female cop (Awkwafina).

With a preference for dark humor and action, director Chris McKay and screenwriter Ryan Ridley manage to create a very entertaining production that even lasts exactly as long as it takes (about an hour and a half).

When we talk about splashes, we mean this: arms, heads, torsos come off and throw left and right with too much ease, in action scenes that, however, have a completely comedic nature, not scary … qualities.

As far as humor goes, it’s mostly weird comedic situations involving an inexplicable gang of mobsters and, of course, Nicolas Cage’s iconic performance. Enhanced with matching prosthetic makeup, the American actor steps into the role of the prince of darkness with style and charm worthy of his reputation, while his signature “exaggerated” performance fits the narcissistic Dracula like a glove. The main character Nicholas Hoult is also very good, whom we see in the role of another action movie after X-Men and Mad Max.

On the whole, Renfield is a successful pop film, with no special demands on itself and the viewer, with an atmospheric soundtrack and an overall atmosphere reminiscent of similar films of the decriminalized 90s, with a decidedly less sexual attitude. But since all…