Renfield Review: Cage’s Dracula is the juice but there’s nothing else at stake – Moviesapple

Film: RenfieldCast: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Adrian Martinez, Jenna Kanell, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Bess RousDirector: Chris McKayRating: 2.5/ 5

'Renfield' is yet another middling attempt by the studio to capitalize on its classic monsters. The interest here lies in the story itself - Robert Kirkman's original story has

Renfield, Dracula's long-suffering servant/familiar, plagued by co-dependency issues, and is shown as seeking help from a support group. It's something that hasn't been done before

and is sure to evoke some hilarity. Also, Nicolas Cage as Dracula has his own unique, sublime attraction. But that's about as original as it can get. We're introduced to

Rebecca (Awkwafina), a New Orleans cop relegated to monitoring a drunk driver checkpoint when her main interest is in going after the Lobo crime family that was responsible for the

death of her police officer father. The film then becomes a generic crime drama with the Lobo head honcho Bellafrancesca (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and her son Tedward (Ben Schwartz)

coming up front and center. It's another matter that Tedward ends up becoming one of Dracula's undead minions. The convoluted screenplay envisages Renfield and Rebecca as partners

fighting off the Lobos' heavily armed henchmen. The graphic representation of never-ending streams of violence with Renfield dismembering his opponents at will have its own

rewards for the blood and gore inclined. Various body parts, organs, and limbs explode in bloody splatters. Director Chris McKay appears to be enjoying the wanton deterioration of

human body parts and presents it with unabashed glee. It's no fun for those unimpressed by overdoses and overkill. It's all so numbness-inducing that you'd rather shut your eyes

and take mini naps while the steroid-induced violence abates. Also Read: `The Inspection` Movie Review: An autobiographical boot camp experience that evokes mixed emotions The film

picks up a beat dramatically whenever Cage as Dracula makes an appearance. Nicolas Cage's attempt to go full vampire for the first time since "Vampire's Kiss," is partially

rewarding. Cage's facial expressions and dialogues delivered with Gothic flair leave a strong enough impression. Hoult also manages to impress with comic craft that sends in the

chills as well as keeps you in splits. His offbeat attempts to blend in with the general public are noteworthy. `Renfield` is more "Kick-Ass" than a traditional blood-sucking

vampire movie. The fight sequences, the slow-mo action, the consistently spurting blood flows, and the evolving rules on vampire kill make this outing less of a vampire movie and