Sure, Nicolas Cage as Dracula might be the immediate draw for Universal Pictures’ Renfield, but let’s be real: This movie belongs to Nicholas Hoult (and not just because he plays the title character). In the two minutes of this trailer, Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road) makes a series of faces—horrible cringes, moments of hope and bafflement—that are precisely calibrated to the tone of this absolutely absurd movie.
Also he kills someone with a decorative serving platter. And maybe a fork? We’re really having a week with misused kitchen objects.
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Renfield is sort-of kind-of a Dracula spinoff, in that Renfield is, in fact, the vampire’s minion in Bram Stoker’s novel. But let’s not put too much weight on its lineage, shall we? It’s kind of not the point here. Cage being campy and Hoult (inexplicably yet charmingly styled with Ruby Rose’s haircut) being wryly earnest: these are the points. Universal is going to drag the Dracula mythos into the 21st century kicking and screaming if it has to, and these two actors (with an assist from Awkwafina) are just the folks to do the dragging.
Literally, there’s some dragging of bodies going on here. And some group therapy, which Dracula rudely interrupts. The movie’s summary explains its very basic premise:
In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men franchise) stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.
Renfield comes from a screenplay by Rick & Morty writer Ryan Ridley, working from an “original idea” by The Walking Dead’s Robert Kirkman. Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War) directs. The cast also includes Ben Schwartz (Space Force), Adrian Martinez (Stumptown), and the great Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Expanse).
Renfield arrives in theaters April 14th. I really hope someone makes a supercut of all the times Hoult cringes.
