Good evening, House of Madness slaves:
Back in January I touched on "Renfield" here, so feel free to click the link to get a very brief synopsis.
I don't know about you, but I'm a big Nic Cage guy. Yes, he does 58,000 projects/year, but more than 62% of the time the film is worth your while. Some aren't too keen on the way he plays characters, as they say he always plays them the same way, while others simply dislike the style in which his lines are delivered. No matter which side of the fence you're on, sometimes his acting formula makes it hard to disagree with these accusations, but I can assure you his performance in "Renfield" is nothing even remotely close to anything or anyone he's portrayed in the past. Quite simply, he hit this one out of the proverbial park; not only does his performance capture the menacing ways of Dracula, but the comedic side of his performance is spot on as well. Cage and Hoult have on-screen chemistry that really works when called upon, and definitely overshadows the silly storyline of Officer Quincy (Awkwafina), which the film could really have done without as it sometimes hinges on the brink of absurdity. Alas, considering we're discussing a film about a bloodsucking vampire whose assistant is tired of his bullshit, I suppose complaining about absurdities is about as redundant as a "National Treasure" sequel. All-in-all, "Renfield" is a gory, bloody, wonderful mess of a film that had my sides splitting without the mess they make on-screen, yet at the same time had me entertained when the film wasn't making light of itself. Yes, if you really want to dig for plotholes you'll find them, yes, there are a few moments that leave you rolling your eyes with dismay, and yes, the overall premise is silly, but the film knows all of these things and uses them to its advantage. I had a blast watching this from start to finish, and this may be my favourite Nic Cage role of all time (Sorry "8mm"); for a man that pumps out more effort than Ron Jeremy per capita, it's good to see when his hard work pays off as it does here in spades, which is quite ironic considering how many times Hollywood has tried to bury his career. Keep 'em coming Mr. Cage, we're all (un)dying to see more films like this.
Madness Meter: 7.7/10
