In 2023, Dracula returns to the silver screen. The vampire stars in the horrific comedy Renfield, named after his assistant. The film, starring Nicolas Cage and Nicolas Hoult, is scheduled for release on May 31, 2023.
Renfield is the new horrific comedy - not always an easy sub-genre to master - from Chris McKay, director of The Lego Batman and The Tomorrow War. In addition to Dracula, played by Nicolas Cage, it features his assistant, Renfield, played by Nicolas Hoult. The two actors also star Awkwafina (who will be Eureka in The Little Mermaid live action) and Adrian Martinez(The Guilty on Netflix).
Our verdict:
Chris McKay'sRenfield is a - very - revisited version of the Dracula myth, now a toxic, bloodthirsty boss. A true "narcissistic pervert" of his time. Renfield, the vampire's assistant, tries to free himself from Dracula. To do so, he seeks to end their mutual dependence.
Surprisingly, this new adaptation of the vampire tale is surprisingly comic and incongruous. The film plays theabsurdity card to the hilt, and this is precisely where its greatest potential lies. We witness a veritable orgy of gory, extravagant sequences, with hectoliters of blood spurting out in every direction. This succession of scenes can be a real pleasure, so much so that the farcical nature of the film is assumed. While the film's opening scenes nod to Tod Browning 's 1961 Dracula, this is the only resemblance we'll find.
For all its good points, however, there are a few aspects of the film that miss the mark, and could therefore relegate it to the rank of a banal comedy, to which we'd be reluctant to devote our time a second time. While the film's voice-over is meant to be humorous at times, it often has the opposite effect, coming off as a cliché. Several plot knots also have the misfortune of pulling us out of the film, both for their cliché aspect and their predictability. Renfield could also be criticized for its imperfect editing, but if you refuse to take this film seriously - as it does - then you're in for a wild comedy. If you don't hold it to any great script rigor and overlook these few shortcomings, the conditions seem ripe for an hour-and-a-half's entertainment.
In the end, the film 's charm lies in its lack of seriousness: closer to gory, zany comedy thanhorrific, it's sure to please fans of wacky films.
