It is clear when watching Renfield that Director Chris McKay has channelled his comedic knowledge working on Robot Chicken and The Lego Batman movie to produce a film gilled with high energy and tongue firmly planted in cheek.  This in part is due to Robert Kirkman’s (The Walking Dead) pitch following Universal Dark Universe reboot, but box office failure of The Mummy.

Using Bram Stoker’s Dracula as source material novel, the film centres on one of the price of darkness’ familiars, RM Renfield to build a modern setting upon. In the novel itself, Renfield is an important-yet-minor character in the grand scheme of things, but is ripe for exploration into a contemporary perspective.

Set in modern times, our protagonist played by Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies) finds himself drained by the everyday/night demands by his master to sustain the food supply and keep his power and strength to its fullest.

Renfield then takes himself to a voluntary self help group of people in codependent relationship with the plan to rid his peers from those who’ve been wronged and bring their abusive partners before Dracula.

A worthwhile plan that rewards his nobleness that is until he meets and falls for police officer Rebecca Quincy (Akwafina). Rebecca is also hellbent on proving her worth in the police community, striding to climb out of the shadows of her father and sister. It is here that thus unlikely duo team up against the forces of evil and stand up to their domineering counterparts.

The Prognosis:

All eyes will no doubt focus on Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Dracula, which is suitably amped up to the nth degree and with plenty of nods towards Max Shreck and Bela Lugosi incarnations. Cage tips it onto the right side of camp without taking it too much into the extreme.

Nicholas Hoult also taps into bumbling Britism to bring a modern Renfield to the screen and when combined with Akwasfina’s dry wit, a fun, comic journey unfolds between them.

The action sequences are also gory and packed with humour, and decide a fairly mediocre storyline, the afore-mention3d elements allow for a decent flick that does just enough to entertain without being clouded by ridicule

– Saul Muerte

Renfield is currently screening in cinemas nationwide.