A daft, over-the-type, tongue-in-cheek, occasionally hyper-violent and bloody caper where Count Dracula’s assistant looks to escape the asylum.
Renfield (Nicholas Hoult – a perfect mix of vulnerability and goth deviousness) has been Dracula’s (Nicolas Cage) sidekick for decades – forced to provide and clear up the bloodied mess, post meal-times. But Renfield wants out – and mayhem ensues as a pastel-wearing Renfield tries to get the better of his master through a New Orleans church-based abusive-relationship co-dependency support group. HIs mission may or may not be helped by local cop (Awkwafina) bent on justice against local crime boss (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and her family.
Bloodshed aplenty as the bodies mount (and not all are Dracula’s meals) as director Chris MacKay looks to the school of Tarantino (and Kill Bill in particular) for inspiration. It’s a polarising result more bloody dark action-comedy than any spooky gothic Hammer Horror. The gentleness of Hoult is perfectly balanced by the maniacal Cage – with the delightful, foul-mouthed Awkwafina sitting somewhere between the two.
Rating: 60%
Director: Chris MacKay (The Tomorrow War, The Batman Lego Movie)
Writer: Ryan Ridley (TV’s Rick & Morty, Community), Robert Kirkman (TV’s The Walking Dead, Outcast)
Main cast: Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, The True History of the Kelly Gang), Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas, National Treasure), Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell)
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