Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Movie Review: Renfield (2023)

 


Universal Pictures has had a long history with horror movies and icons - especially a certain novel by Bram Stoker that focuses on a legendary vampire from Transylvania who thirsts for blood and is served by a man who has a terrible relationship with his master. In what is definitely a very different take on the dynamic that's usually presented to audiences, director Chris McKay and comic book writer Robert Kirkman put the spotlight on the servant and how he comes to terms with that toxic relationship, and we get "Renfield" - a truly unique and hilarious horror comedy that takes master and servant to the modern world and sees the latter break out of his master's shadow and abusive nature.


Thanks to Universal Pictures Philippines and SM Cinema, I got to see a screening of "Renfield" last Monday - and sure enough it's as horrific as it is hilarious - with a very relevant exploration of how one can break free from an abusive and toxic relationship as well!

Renfield | Final Trailer (2023)

Led by the very talented duo of Nicholas Hoult and the legendary Nicolas Cage as R.M Renfield and Count Dracula respectively, "Renfield" acts as a quasi-sequel to the 1931 "Dracula" movie starring the late Bela Lugosi as the lord of vampires. In this movie, master and servant have survived through the decades by travelling the world and claiming victims - with Dracula bestowing Renfield supernatural abilities as his "familiar" and granting him immortality as well. However their relationship is far from perfect - with the co-dependecy nature of things finally taking its toll on our titular character as he seeks advice from a self-help group on how to deal with a toxic relationship.

Also starring comedians Awkwafina and Ben Schwartz, "Renfield" has a pretty solid cast of talents that will definitely fire up the theater with good ol' horror tropes and laughs while giving the titular character the spotlight to break free from his vampire master's clutches and seek redemption. Nicholas Hoult absolutely carries the movie as its lead who is timid yet learns to finally become a better version of himself, while Nic Cage sells his version of Dracula by hamming it up the best way he can. It comes full circle from his statement of "I'm a Vampire!" from Vampire's Kiss, and he delivers a great and nasty performance as the vampiric force sometimes called Nosferatu! Definitely recommended!

Rating - 4/5

Renfield is now showing in theaters!

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