Renfield delivers on a great time at the movies. Packed with insanity, action, humor, blood, and gore, this is one you soon won’t forget.

Renfield is exactly the movie that you think it is by looking at the trailers. It is pure insanity from beginning to end. Packed with blood and gore, it will take some viewers by surprise when it delivers some important messages about what codependency looks like. Don’t get me wrong here, this movie does not try to be preachy or rub your face in taking a look at life and relationships, however due to the analyzation of Dracula and Renfield’s relationship, it just might be a byproduct of the film for some watchers.
You are probably thinking that name Renfield sounds familiar. And it should if you are a fan of Dracula movies, or have even just heard the lore. Renfield is Dracula’s most trusted servant. He came to him as a man; a lawyer that was hoping to strike a deal with a Count. He eventually fell under Dracula’s spell and became a slave to him. He is tasked with things like brining Dracula his meals — unsuspecting, innocent victims.
This story follows Renfield (played by Nicholas Hoult) in modern day. Times are tough and it is hard to find those with pure blood. Renfield is also starting to realize that his relationship with Dracula (played by Nicolas Cage) is a bit on the toxic side. Bring in a cop with anger issues, Rebecca Quincy (played by Awkwafina), and the not-so-good-at-what-he-does criminal (played by Ben Schwartz), and you have yourself an absolutely bonkers movie. Did I mention Teddy’s mother is played by the phenomenal Shohreh Aghdashloo?
What works so well about this movie is that it just opens the flood gates and lets loose — right from the start. Just when you think things cannot get any crazier, they do. This film certainly pushes the envelope when it comes to ridiculous moments. The blood and gore don’t look especially real, however that is one hundred percent the vibe that this movie is going for. It is clear the point all along was for it to look fake — but that doesn’t mean it won’t still get a reaction out of the audience.
Nicolas Cage’s Dracula is like none we have ever seen before. I don’t want to go into too many details, but just know that you will be quite surprised to see the state he is for the majority of the film. That said, he is pretty incredible when he does show up. This story is about Renfield though, and WOW does Nicholas Hoult truly deliver. This comes as no surprise at all considering he is one of the best actors working today. The Great, Warm Bodies, Mad Max Fury Road.. need we go on?
Hoult brings something unique to this movie. He is absolutely brutal when he needs to be, and delivers some of the most grotesque yet hilarious moments. That said, he is also the heart of the film. Even though he is a horrible person at times, you can’t help but feel bad for him. You will just want to reach out and give him a hug. His relationship with Awkwafina is fun to watch play out, and brings in some humorous moments as well.
That said, it really is his relationship (they only barely met twice…though) with Ben Schwartz that steals the show. Schwartz is a great improvisor. He is one of the funniest men in Hollywood and is always the bright spot of a series or film. So to see him in a way that we have never really seen him before is strange, but also a breath of fresh air. Teddy Lobo isn’t exactly what you expect from the son of a determined crime boss, which is why Schwartz is perfect to play him. He brings something to this character that makes you laugh the second you see him on screen, as you wait to see what he is going to mess up next.
Chris McKay took a brilliant concept from Robert Kirkman and brought it to the screen in ways that I never imagined could be done. This movie is like What We Do In The Shadows mixed with M3gan and I am absolutely here for it. The violence is next level and somehow every action scene gets better and better. They go on for what should be far too long, yet you are left wanting more. The use of sound, angles, and close-ups combine to make them scenes you could watch over and over again.
Did I mention just how hilarious this movie is? It causes you to laugh at things you should never, ever laugh at. Somehow this movie has brought out the child in me. Well, the sadistic child, anyways.
Overall Thoughts
Renfield is a horror comedy on paper, but it somehow ends up being deeper than that. Renfield is struggling with his life choices and honestly, we have all been there. He wants to be a better person and his relationship with Dracula hinders his ability to do that. For those who have been in a toxic relationship, or consider themselves codependent, this is going to be a strangely bizarre eye opener of a movie.
Honestly though, Renfield is an off-the-walls movie packed with pure insanity. It constantly pushes the envelope and thanks to the talented cast, it works. It is silly. It is bloody. And it knows exactly what it is. So if you want to go have a good time at the movies, laughing your butt off and looking around at your theater-mates thinking “I can’t believe they just did that!”, then Renfield is for you.
But if you want to continue to live a boring life, and miss out on one of the best films of the year, stay home on April 14th.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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About Renfield
Evil doesn’t span eternity without a little help.
In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men franchise) stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.
Renfield is directed by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War, The LEGO Batman Movie) from a screenplay by Ryan Ridley (Ghosted series, Rick & Morty series), based on an original idea by The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman.
The film co-stars Awkwafina (The Farewell, Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings), Ben Schwartz (Sonic, The Afterparty) and Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Focus).
Renfield is produced by Skybound Entertainment partners Robert Kirkman and David Alpert (The Walking Dead, Invincible), co-presidents Bryan Furst (Daybreakers) and Sean Furst (Daybreakers) and by Chris McKay. McKay’s producing partner Samantha Nisenboim (co-producer, The Tomorrow War) will executive produce.
Renfield hits theaters April 14th!
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.
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