Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Renfield’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(from left) Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) and Dracula (Nicolas Cage) in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay. © 2023 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Michele K. Short / Universal Pictures

One particular truth that each and every one of us have become aware of in recent years, is that toxic relationships in any form or fashion are extremely bad for us mentally… and we should avoid them at all costs. Which is a truth that has come forth through focused research on what makes a relationship healthy and of course… through a paradigm shift in our modern world. Where people are in essence, done with being treated like garbage from a partner or someone they consider a close friend and extended family. So, we all demand better of our relationships, and look for the signs and hope that the next person we encounter and bring into our lives… understands what healthy interactions look like in life. 
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But alas, despite having that knowledge and despite remaining vigilant to avoid that kind of relationship… sometimes we find ourselves trapped within one and sometimes they seem impossible to escape. It could be because in that moment, the toxic person is all we have, it could also be because they snuck past our defenses and drew us in with charm and disarming behavior. But either way, we still get suckered into these nightmare relationships and eventually break free… only to wonder… what it will take to finally be rid of them. To finally be in a place where we attract great people to our lives and our world, and create good memories and take part in wholesome experiences with them and well, a brand-new horror comedy explores those very questions and that makes Renfield quite the unique motion picture.

Simply because… one wouldn’t expect to find such positive messages in a story about the man that helped Count Dracula rise to the top, but they are there. A feat made possible, by checking in with Renfield and Dracula many years after we met them in the original Universal Monster film. Wherein we learn that Renfield and the count, have been all over the world and constantly find themselves in a toxic cycle of madness where they cannot ever find peace because of the way the world views the legendary vampire. But their arrival in modern day New Orleans, brings Renfield face to face with a unique group of people. Folks that gather to talk about how they are currently dealing with their own toxic relationships and co-dependency issues, and well… they’ve caught Renfield’s eye because they have helped him to realize, that his relationship with the legendary Count Dracula is toxic in nature and his life might be better off, without a powerful bloodsucker in his life. 

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Which is the perfect way to explore the theme in question and keep us in stitches, because that really is quite the ‘out of left field’ plot, one that absolutely leans into the comedy and provides the viewer with a bevy of laughs. Since there is a level of absurdity to seeing a man such as Renfield, a horror icon really, ponder upon the nature of his relationship with Dracula, but the comedy really is how the message is hammered home. Because it helps to expose the reality that in order to break free of a toxic element that we think will make us whole, we have to instead… make ourselves whole, and come to understand we don’t need that other person in our lives. Which allows for some beautiful moments to come through, the kind that really do help us to understand how to properly be free of that toxic pal or lover in a manner that is never overwhelming and relaxed. 
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But while it is a joy to laugh and chuckle at seeing the legendary Renfield go through such a discovery process when his life has consisted of feeding his master and feeding himself bugs for the better part of a century, make no mistake about it… this movie never loses sight of its horror roots. For it is rife with iconography from the vampire subgenre of horror, and it pays tribute to the original film wonderfully, making this a pseudo-sequel of sorts. Not to mention, it respects horror through and through, courtesy of some no holds barred gore. The kind that reminds us just how brutal and violent the vampire is as a creature, and how brutal our own world can be, since there are plenty of wonderful villains to be found in this tale beyond Dracula. Who simply steal the scenes they are in courtesy of some delightful and dynamic acting, and speaking of performances, we would be fools to not spotlight the film’s stars.

Because Nicholas Hoult is simply electric as Renfield and brings an amazing humanity to the role that is disarming in nature and draws one into his plight, allowing for us to root for him through and through, and he is wonderfully juxtaposed by Nicholas Cage. Who plays the iconic Dracula in this tale… with a zest and zeal that adds depth to a character that at times has been presented on screen as quite one-dimensional, and it doesn’t hurt that Cage obviously relishes playing a monster this legendary since the joy of wearing those fangs shines through and adds to the majesty of a movie that you absolutely need to sink your teeth into. Simply because, it has something for everyone. Because if you’re looking for laughs, you’ll find them. If you want meaning, that’s here too, as are buckets upon buckets of gore and it is also just downright delightful and fun, and the best news of all is that you don’t have to wait to enjoy it. For Renfield is in theaters now, and we hope you give it a look. For it really is quite the refreshing and entertaining ride.

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