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By focusing on Dracula’s long-suffering lapdog, RENFIELD puts an action-packed twist on the iconic bloodsucker’s story. For hundreds of years, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) has attended to his master’s every need – bringing him victims, fighting vampire hunters with the aid of some magical bugs, and keeping his cape free of wrinkles. While attending an abuse support group to look for more “food” (the abusers, not the people venting about them in the group), realizes he’s also in a toxic relationship with Count Dracula (Nicolas Cage), and starts planning his escape.
His courage to leave is boosted when he decides to save the life of Rebecca (Awkwafina), during a shootout with the Lobos; a powerful crime family whose influences reach deep, including the government and police force of New Orleans. The two have a meet-cute that involves severed limbs and buckets (and buckets and buckets and buckets) of blood, with Renfield and Rebecca teaming up to take down Tedward Lobo (Ben Schwartz) and his momma Bellafrancesca (Shohreh Aghdashloo). Unfortunately, the Lobos also decide to team up with The Count – and all hell breaks loose.
Every conflict in this film is a masterful choreography of blood, bone, and tearing skin, with Nic Cage vamping it up (I KNOW I KNOW BUT I HAD TO SAY IT) by channeling the signature moves of both Bela Lugosi and Frank Langella. RENFIELD is exactly the movie you think it is – at one point in the special features, Nic says he was trying to make it feel like AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, and I think you can definitely feel that.
All I know is that it made me laugh a lot – “I don’t ask for much, Renfield, just a few hundred innocent victims…” – and was filled with THE MOST splatter, so I had a fun time watching. There’s also a fun little cameo from Caroline “Stretch” Williams!
The “Dracula Sucks” edition has a ton of special features, including lots of great interviews including Nic’s method for bringing Dracula to the screen, as well as a full breakdown of the practical F/X. Highly enjoyable behind-the-scenes content. Now available on digital, Blu-ray, and DVD.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON DIGITAL, BLU-RAYTM & DVD:
- Hilarious Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Alternate Takes
- Dracula UnCaged – Go inside the mind of a vampire as Dracula himself, Nicolas Cage, reveals the secrets behind turning a classic character into a memorable monster.
- Monsters & Men: Behind the Scenes of RENFIELD – An in-depth look at Renfield’s cast, sets, costumes and more as the actors and filmmakers reveal how they modernized a famous terror tale with trailblazing comedy and over-the-top action.
- Stages of Rejuvenation – See how special makeup effects bring the undead to life throughout the four stages of Dracula’s incredible transformation.
- Flesh & Blood – Exploding heads. Peeling faces. Severed limbs. They’re all part of the macabre movie magic that fuels Renfield with inventive action and hilarious horror.
- Fighting Dirty – Stunt coordinator Christopher Brewster leads a look at the training, choreography, and careful execution that goes into the film’s spectacular stunts and fight scenes.
- The Making of a Deleted Scene: Renfield’s Dance! – Nicholas Hoult and choreographer Kathryn Burns pull back the curtain on constructing an elaborate musical number for a fantasy dance sequence.
- Feature Commentary with Producer Samantha Nisenboim, Screenwriter Ryan Ridley, and Crew
I Love Splatter! 