Renfield

Initial Thoughts?

Vera Bradley: I don’t have much to say other than that Nic Cage pulled off a wonderfully campy (and well-researched) Dracula, to which I tip my enormous top hat. I did not care at all about the plot. This movie tried to do the same thing Nosferatu 2025 later did, using vampires to create a larger metaphor about toxic relationships. However, while Nosferatu was pretty successful in this, Renfield couldn’t figure out whether it was a comedy or a serious movie, and ultimately took the plot in an unconvincing and sappy direction. The characters can’t be truly funny because the movie takes them too seriously, and they ultimately have to learn a (sappy) real life lesson in the end. There are a lot of promising gags in this movie (Dracula’s familiar going to group for people in toxic relationships??) that would have done better in a show/movie like WWDITS, which does not take its characters seriously, and lets viewers extrapolate whatever “lessons” they will.

Mona Bloodstick: The thing is…after watching Sinners (review incoming btw) every vampire movie feels cold and empty. There were a lot of good things here, however. I did really like Nicholas Hoult and Nicholas Cage here.

1: How did this movie handle classic vampire tropes?

VB: Interesting bug power trope, Nicholas Hoult has to eat bugs and then he gets all powerful. I’ve never heard of this trope before, it must have been inspired by Nicholas Hoult’s real life bug powers.

MB: It’s pretty classic, especially considering the source material. I really liked Dracula’s den.

2: Any good kills?

VB: It was suuuuuper gory but in like a saturated, crayola-box kinda way. It wasn’t dark or anything because it was all obviously meant to be unrealistic. I do think the blood was CGI which detracts from the magic, but did allow them to create that super ridiculous effect.

MB: Lots of very messy kills. Nothing that impressive, but still a good amount for your average vampire movie.

3: How does this movie deal with the curse of eternal existence?

MB: I feel like Renfield is kind of resigned to his fate? He’s kinda just chill with it. Eating bugs doesn’t seem to bother him until other people point it out.

VB: Renfield is more concerned with the violence he is perpetuating than his prolonged existence, and Dracula is A-ok with living forever.

4: Sex appeal?

VB: Nah. Even Ben Schwartz doesn’t do it for me in this.

MB: Absolutely none. And I am choosing to ignore that comment on your lust for Ben Schwartz, Vera. There are several scenes regarding aforementioned toxic relationship help group, which could have led to an interesting dynamic between Dracula and Renfield (à la the WWDITS TV show). Not sure why they neglected this bit in favor of giving Awkwafina and Ben Schwartz boring backstories.

5: Would I want to be a vampire in this universe?

VB: Inconclusive: we are only introduced to Dracula, who I def wouldn’t hang out with, but it is possible there are other pockets of the vampire community not explored in this film.

MB: Not really, but as a fan of bugs, I wouldn’t mind taking on a Renfield type role.

Final thoughts?

VB: It’s not the worst vampire movie, and it is at times funny. It just misses the mark for me.

MB: Blah blah blah.

“I wish to spend a season in hell, where all the amusing people are”

--XOXO Vera and Mona