User reviews

This was an incredibly silly and fun movie that you really don't have to think too hard about.

The humour is arguably the best part of the film, and I had many laugh out loud moments. Nicholas Hoult delivers as our lead, Awkwafina plays exactly what you'd expect which suits the role well, but Nicholas Cage as Dracula is just fantastic. He hit the tone perfectly with this one, scary, funny, manipulative, honestly the perfect casting for this horror comedy.

It's not a perfect film, the action; whilst enjoyable, is at times incredibly difficult to follow exactly what us happening - which is a problem with a lot of movies now days. They're also some silly plot holes, as well as just not enough as Nick Cage as you'd like, but overall it really doesn't matter.

If you're looking for a horror comedy with some very gory and silly moments, you've come to the right place. Fans of Cage are going to love this one.

Over the top chaotic fun with buckets of blood and gratuitous violence. Both Cage as Dracula and Hoult as Renfield are superb with excellent acting and an authentic master/servant relationship.

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The plot wasn't as special as it could have been, but it's still pretty good and the moral message is well woven in between the frequent fast paced action scenes.

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Great special effects, makeup and use of music, but it did feel a bit of a mish-mash at times and there wasn't as much comedy as I was expecting.

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Overall, I would score this film as a seven out of ten.

I don't think anybody is going into Renfield thinking they're going to see an oscar winner. They're going in expecting a fun, comedic thriller about Dracula's servant, with an excellent Nicolas Cage performance. On that front Renfield delivers. The jokes are hilarious punches at the Dracula lore presented, the action is over the top and ridiculously bloody, and the story is servicable enough to satisfy. My only issue with the film is there are parts where the dialouge feels like it was written by a teenager and there are certain illogical plot holes that seemed to just be an issue as far as editing goes. If the filmmakers had just switched a few scenes around, they could've avoid that. They also show you a lot of the good scenes in the trailer, but there was still more fun to be had besides that stuff as well. Overall, an enjoyable experience that doesn't overstay it's welcome with a brisk 90 minute runtime. I would recommend this on Cage's performance alone, but the film also stood up on it's own as well.

3.5 victims out of 5.

I wasn't necessarily expecting exceedingly high quality from Renfield, but I was expecting a lot of fun, and that's exactly what I got.

The plot is thoroughly entertaining, with great pacing and a fun set of characters. It's nothing particularly complex or mind blowing, but it has some creative ideas that are nice and engaging. The tone is all very tongue in cheek, which makes it actually decently funny, which I wasn't necessarily expecting so that was a treat.

The cast are superb. Nick Cage as Dracula, need I say anymore? He is obviously a triumph in the role. Nicholas Hoult is a great lead, and supporting roles from Awkwafina and Ben Schwartz are great fun.

Overall I think that word sums up the film perfectly. It's just a whole lot of fun.

This was excellent in my opinion and nicholas cage was Having a great time playing dracula. The action sequences were great as was some of the humor, Especially if you don't mind things a little dark and gory. The only flaw was awkwafina. She is NOT funny and has zero charisma. I cannot understand how she keeps getting cast in movies. She basically ruined Shang Chi and is not likeable in the least. However, despite being given way too much screen time, she didn't ruin this one completely. All of the other actors did a good job, and Nicolas Hought(or however it is spelled) was charming and likeable. Give it a watch.

Last year, Nick Cage starred in a major theatrically released movie for the first time in over a decade. It was the pleasant surprise, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. I love it. And I hoped it would be the movie to bring him back to prominence. (Not that he ever left ;)

So I was immediately excited to see a new Nick Cage movie, Renfield, in theaters. Not to mention I love vampires. And in many ways, this movie is exactly what I wanted. It's entertaining, over-the-top, and borderline outrageous. I laughed a bunch, both at the comedy and at the craziness/gore. There is one scene near the end that perfectly captures the absurd fun (at the apartment complex).

At the same time, those crazy and outrageous scenes make up a very small portion of this movie. And overall, it's not put together very well. The story doesn't feel smooth. Seems more... frantic. Same with the action. It's not bad, but it's a little... frantic. Same with the movie as a whole. I could tell as soon as it started. It's kind of... hectic.

I was still able to get a lot of enjoyment out of Renfield. Cage gives a great performance. Six stars is a positive score for me. I had a good time and I'll probably watch it again at some point. But for a theatrical Nick Cage vampire movie, I can't help but be a bit disappointed. I should have LOVED this.

On to the next. I was already watching most of his movies when they were low quality streaming movies. You better believe I'm watching all Cage theatrical movies. More crazy and weird stuff, please :)

(1 viewing, early screening 4/12/2023)

Cage was born for this role. He's not in the movie as much as I would've liked though. I was expecting him to go full Nic Cage mode here, but he takes a slightly different approach and it works pretty well.

The gore is amazing with some really spectacular dismemberments and blood effects. They're really fun to watch. Only issue I had with it is the CGI blood doesn't stain clothes, walls, and floors etc so it kinda gave an unfinished look.

Then there's Awkwafina. She can't act at all. Her line delivery is terrible. I have no idea why she keeps being cast in so many movies. She plays a cop but I didn't buy a second of it. If her role was switched with the woman that plays her sister the movie would been better.

This film had every good thing going for it to be a surprisingly entertaining and fun popcorn flick. The comedy was spot on, the gore effects were nice and extreme, and all the casting and performances were excellent, especially Cage, who was perfect for the role. I wasn't sure about casting Awkwafina, but her chemistry and character were a great compliment to Nicholas Hoult's character. But the best part of this film, was the nice twist on the over-done Dracula/vampire genre. It was a refreshing and unique twist on a story we've seen done so many times before. My only complaint is that I wanted to see more of Cage in this film. Not sure if it's doable, but this could be a fun new film franchise if they can come up with more films using the same characters - and hopefully see more of Cage at his best.

Renfield is a lot of fun, a fast paced 90 minute horror comedy that's diversions from its core idea are still funny and never on screen long enough to derail it. Underneath all the unapologetically over the top gore is a really heartwarming story about understanding and appreciating your own self worth.

Nicholas Hoult cements his skills at comedy with another really funny performance and Renfield's lack of confidence and journey to find it is just really endearing. Awkwafina is obviously equally strong when it comes to comedy and this role also offers a few dramatic moments as well.

Ben Schwartz adds another funny supporting performance to his resume, having definitely made up for Sonic 2 now. The best performance and strongest aspect of the whole film is easily Nicolas Cage as Dracula. He brings the Cage elements you expect whilst still having an intimidating presence. Even though he gets enough screen time, more Dracula would've been appreciated.

Chris McKay's direction is really good, the film may lack an overall style but he makes sure the film is generally stylish with well implemented slow motion, energetic and well shot fight scenes and the odd montage. Also, this and 2020s The Invisible Man prove the Dark Universe being cancelled before it could get off the ground was the best thing as these films are way more unique and interesting.

Renfield is a stupid, gory, bloody, funny mess. Not a horror by any means, it still satisfied my appetite for a little Halloween fun. I can't stand Awkafina in general as I find her annoying overall, and she had no chemistry with the lead. Nicholas Cage, however, is perfectly cast and awesome to watch. The dialogue is well-written, and the plot is silly sunlight to keep you entertained. Who would have thought that Dracula and his like would face many of the same relationship issues that so many of us mere mortals do in everyday life. Prepare to be grossed out, but also prepare to have a good time. A good 90 minutes spent.

So the campy meter is going to hit some serious levels of intense here, and most are praising the movie for it, but there's a point where it starts to become more annoying than fun. This movie achieves that right about when they introduce Awkwafina as the co-lead and potential love interest? I don't know. I honestly can't stand any movie she's in as I know the performance will be amateurish at best and loaded with jokes that never seem to land. Cage does an ok role as dracula but this is basically a motivational film for people trapped in abusive relationships who can't seem to escape. Nice message and all, but it could've been executed better. I don't end up feeling anything at all for the characters, and thus their struggles/plights never resonate or land either. I knew from the trailers that it was going to be mediocre, but this actually made me exclaim aloud "damn, that was awful."

Nicolas Cage really looks like Christopher Lee as the Hammer Horror movies Dracula. Excellent work by Cage. It would be nice to see him again as Dracula, but in a real vampire horror movie.

Cage was great as the main villain, being funny in the spirit of Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movies. Hoult was great as the disrespected lackey who wanted a better life. The supporting characters were all very good, and they made the movie believable and funny too.

The gore and special effects were very good. This movie really delivered at most levels, and yet it managed to be cheesy in a good way. A+

I'am here for Cage (like most of fans, the key reason for watching this movie) and i'm gonna rate the performance of Nick Cage.

Nick is just phenomenal, born to do his job doesn't matter the environment or position where he is !! He is here without any complains doing his job. You can see in every movie he gives his best outta him, even if the movie was bad or low budget stuff. Nick has done it everytime along his hard financial times he knows to do on the right way to entertain his audience.

Renfield is worth to watch if you're here for Nick Cage, The Unbearable weight of massive Talent was great comeback, i just hope he continues his form on the highest level.

Casting Nick Cage as Dracula is the best thing this movie does. Nicholas Hoult is also lovable as Renfield. The Nicks truly kill it! The action scenes are surprisingly enjoyable with how well choreographed and how they really utilise that R rating.

Unfortunately, Awkwafina's character and her boring plot to take down a mob take a lot of screen time. It doesn't help that Awkwafina gives the same usual performance she always does. The movie wastes its unique premise while also having bland character arcs and making it a cliché movie. Nevertheless, the short runtime of 93 minutes makes it a good watch to kill time.

The film follows Dracula in the modern world and more specifically his servant/familiar Renfield, whose in charge of bringing him victims for food and attending to all his needs. The movie focuses more on Renfield though and his life as he tries to start living his own life and break free of his duties as familiar to Dracula. An interesting story, can get a bit boring though here and there but overall enjoyable.

The casting is pretty great with Nicholas Hoult playing Renfield and giving us a very Warm Blood style performance which actually works pretty well. Dracula is played by Nicholas Cage who is back to acting in good movies once again and the performance he gives us is truly amazing! Absolutely loved every minute he was on screen and good to see him back acting in some top tier films once again. Awkwafina plays a cop Rebecca and unfortunately her acting style is just not for me. Didn't like her here in Renfield or in her other movies like Shang Chi. Just find her to be too much and her acting style to be the same in everything she is in which is loud and forced comedy.

The VFX and SFX were just awesome! Loved seeing the fight scenes and all the blood and gore. Good job with the effects for sure, probably one of the best things about the movie.

Overall a well deserved 7/10 from me. Movie overall is enjoyable with a solid storyline, great cast for the most part and lovely effects. Recommend a watch if you like Nicholas Cage, Nicholas Hoult or horror, comedy style film.

Renfield. 2023. Comedy horror,featuring Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, Count Dracula's trusty familiar. Dracula played by and I hadn't realised that I really like Nick Cage. It's a enjoyable romp, think "What We Do In The Shadows" but with more gore and fighting. Similar to Shadows in that it's the everyday mundane stuff which makes the film, along with gory fight scenes with use of dismembered limbs as weapons which is nice and lots of bugs which will please the hungry among us. The subplot with the drug barons is a bit pointless but the counselling group which Renfield joins is great fun. It's worth seeing horror fans 8/10.

I'd be lying if I said I haven't been looking forward to this from the time I saw the first trailer. The source material is classic, the premise is enticing, and the trailer promised a super blend of horror and comedy. Nicolas Cage has had many ups and downs in his career but has made some fantastic films with outstanding performances in recent years, from horror-thriller romp 'Mandy' to the beautiful, direly underappreciated 'Pig,' and the notion of seeing his take on Dracula has its own allure; Nicolas Hoult and Awkwafina have increasingly proven themselves with every role they take on. I'm less familiar with filmmaker Chris McKay, or writers Ryan Ridley or Robert Kirkman, but they all have their own measures of renown. With all this said, I've had 'Renfield' in mind as the first theatrical release of 2023 that was a must-see for me, perhaps a little naively getting my hopes up. How is it, though? Has it lived up to the expectations that had been built up for me piece by piece? I'm very glad to say that frankly, it's at least as good, and maybe even better.

Everyone involved was clearly having a total blast with what this movie could be, while never losing sight of the intent to entertain. And that it does without question, being delightfully over the top and full embracing Movie Magic in its plot development, and in blending horror, stylized action, and comedy, but doing so in a way that's knowing, smart, and cheeky. Every component part here is simply outstanding: the wild blood, gore, and special makeup, and some choice shots spotlighting that garishness; the wonderfully outrageous stunts, and effects practical and special; sharp, intelligent humor, connected to the core conceits or not, and sometimes joyfully and deliberately contraposed (as with select music cues). Cage is wholly reveling in the ham-handed theatricality and chewing of scenery as Dracula; Hoult and Awkwafina are given an opportunity to show more of their range and skill sets as actors, and I can only reflect that I look forward to seeing both in much more. Shohreh Aghdashloo is an unexpected highlight in her supporting part, living up the underhanded smarm and menace of Bellafrancesca. And this is hardly to count out the swell acting from Ben Schwartz, Bess Rous, Camille Chen, Brandon Scott Jones, or anyone else among the cast.

The production design and art direction are excellent across the board, with especial highlights in the decoration of Dracula's lair, and the Lobos stronghold, and even Renfield's apartment. A peppy soundtrack is splendid complement to the solid if more ordinary score of Marco Beltrami, and just as importantly, very fitting for the zesty tone that 'Renfield' adopts. On that note, of course none of this would be possible without a robust backbone, and to the credit of Kirkman and Ridley, they've done a terrific job in penning what the picture would become. Snappy and well considered exposition leads us directly into that superb swirl of genres, but with a consistent, somewhat unique and surprising through-line. The screenplay distinctly plays with concepts of abuse, codependency, and toxic relationships, and it does so for comedy. Yet at the same time that thrust is completely, gratifyingly sincere, and sagely and sparingly deployed in such a fashion with clear hope of helping to connect some dots for people in the audience who need that little push. With everything that the feature aims to stir together - including a tightly wound plot mixing the Dracula-Renfield dynamics, Quincy's personal and professional difficulties, criminal organizations, and police corruption - the storytelling does get a tad heavy-handed and gawky at points.

And this is where the assessment takes on a hint of criticism, for while the conscious, winking slant of overcooking and Cinematic Sorcery does help all these facets to tie together well, I don't think it could ever be perfect. All very good ideas, truly, but a smidgen too exact every now and again. Moreover, the course of events is divided into three discrete acts, and the last act is particularly busy as it takes every inclusion and notion to their extreme. It's a lot to take in sometimes. On the other hand, intelligent as the writing and otherwise craftsmanship is, the end result when all is said and done is that the resolution of all the parts, the climax not least, and the ending, is all the more satisfying for it.

Rife with substantial violence, and emphatic if oblique discussion of trauma, in various ways this won't appeal to everyone. It's also perhaps worth noting that at the same time that the film stays true to the vampire mythology in some regard, and pays homage to prior realizations, it also surely plays fast and loose with the genre. This fits neatly among its fanged Silver Screen brethren, but in its own way. Provided none of this is an obstacle, however, I'd have no qualms in recommending this flick to just about anyone. It's funny, it's exciting, and it's very well made in every capacity - and above all, it's so much fun from start to finish. Once more, I had high expectations, and I'm so pleased with how squarely they were met or possibly surpassed. 'Renfield' is a deliciously good time, and it earns my hearty, enthusiastic recommendation!

The idea of a film about Renfield focusing on the co-dependent relationship is brilliant. I was looking forward to it, and also to seeing Nicholas Cage who is one of my favorite actors.

What a disappointment.

I'm not sur e if this is a satire, a comedy, or what. It does have some funny moments, and it does have some valuable discussions about co-dependency. Then again it does have some action sequences, though they devolve into silly comic-book gore sessions that are over the top.

The problem with the film is that it doesn't know what it is, so the snippets of this or that don't mix well together.

Pretty good!!! It's no Citizen Kane, but it was funny, entertaining, and most importantly....something different! Any newer movie that's not some dying Franchise that a big corporation is trying to revamp into some money making MCU type horse they can beat to death is automatically getting props from me. Of course nobody is really acting outside thier usual acts. Ben Schwartz is still Ben Schwartz, Awkwafina is still Awkwafina, and Nicholas Holt is still Nicholas Holt. Buuut I will say Nicolas Cage as Dracula is amazing!!!! He was great and did act outside of his normal routine in my opinion! Overall it is a lot of fun if your wanting a good time, don't think it's going to be a huge favorite or anything. But it's definitely enjoyable and entertaining.

A coercive controller sucks all your lifeblood, takes you to the depths and leaves you lying in the mud, impossible to disconnect, has you hanging by the neck, you could do with a stake, from a nice bit of wood. To get out of this cage, and call it a halt, you quaff lots of bugs, to give you a short bolt, to recover the power, to outstare the glower, but whatever you do, you're still under assault. Then with the help of some friends, who have similar stories, you establish a way to escape all your furies, creating a circle, to remove the immortal, with a result that leaves you, entering new territories.

It's deeper than you think but I'm not sure it's intentional.