I join NewsTalk 1010 host Jim Richards on the coast-to-coast-to-coast late night “NewsTalk Tonight” to play the game “Did Richard Crouse Like This?” This week we talk about the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma” and the coming-of-middle-age story and the Michelle Williams dramedy “Showing Up.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to take a seat! Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma” and the coming-of-middle-age story and the Michelle Williams dramedy “Showing Up.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I joined CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres. Today we talk about the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma” and the coming-of-middle-age story and the Michelle Williams dramedy “Showing Up.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join CTV NewsChannel anchor Marcia MacMillan to talk about the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma” and the coming-of-middle-age story and the Michelle Williams dramedy “Showing Up.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join “CP24 Breakfast” to talk about what to see in theatres and on streaming service this weekend, including the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma,” the reality show “The Traitor” and the travelogue food show “Evolving Vegan.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join 1290 CJBK in London and host Ken Eastwood to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma” and the coming-of-middle-age story and the Michelle Williams dramedy “Showing Up.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
I sit in with CKTB morning show host Tim Denis to have a look at the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma” and the coming-of-middle-age story and the Michelle Williams dramedy “Showing Up.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the horror comedy “Renfield,” the coming-of-middle-age story “Mafia Mamma” and the coming-of-middle-age story and the Michelle Williams dramedy “Showing Up.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
“Renfield,” a new horror comedy starring Nicholas Hoult as the beleaguered familiar to the Prince of Darkness (Nicolas Cage), pays homage to the menace of Universal’s 1931 “Dracula,” while adding some fun with the addition of gory laughs.
Hoult is Robert Montagu Renfield, an assistant to the narcissistic Count Dracula, galvanized with just enough vampiric power to be able to subdue victims for his master’s pleasure.
“Renfield,” sneers Dracula, “your sole purpose is to serve me! Now let’s eat!”
Together for almost 100 years, Renfield spent most of that time eating bugs and risking life and limb to provide for Dracula’s voracious appetite. He’s at his wit’s end, but it’s not until his latest job, looking for potential victims at a counselling group for people trapped in toxic relationships, turns from a hunting ground to a self-actualization session, that he has a moment of clarity.
“I will no longer tolerate abuse,” he says, after listening to the stories shared by the group. “I deserve happiness.”
His journey to a normal life begins with Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina), a New Orleans traffic cop still stinging from the loss of her father at the hands of the violent Lobo crime family run by Ella (Shohreh Aghdashloo). When Renfield uses his Dracula-given powers to save Rebecca and others from mob enforcer Teddy Lobo (Ben Schwartz), he is seen as a hero for the first time in his life. Empowered, he now faces his greatest enemy, his employer Dracula.
“I will unleash an army of death,” Dracula threatens. “Everyone you care about will suffer because you betrayed me.”
Perhaps an alternate title for “Renfield” might have been “Dracula: I’m OK, You’re OK.” A mix of Bram Stoker and group therapy pioneer Joseph H. Pratt, it is a modern interpretation of the Dracula legend and therapeutic treatment that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The blend of self-help and horror is absurd, but director Chris McKay keeps his foot on the pedal, barreling through the story and recreating vampire lore–in this version, for instance, eating bugs isn’t a sign of madness, it gives Renfield superhero ability—with the efficiency of Van Helsing’s stake carver.
In on the fun are the dueling Nics, Hoult and Cage. This is the hapless Renfield’s story, so his search for freedom and redemption takes a chomp out of the film’s economical 90-minute running time, allowing Hoult to go from sniveling supernatural servant to empowered paladin at a quick pace. It’s a fun, lightweight performance, that works whether he’s opposite Awkwafina, who plays it broad, or Cage who is equal parts creepy, campy and dangerous.
With a mouthful of needle-like teeth, super strength and an uncanny resemblance to Bela Lugosi, Cage sinks his teeth into Dracula in a performance that benefits from the actor’s gonzo approach. He is supernatural, but his narcissistic “I’m the real victim here!” attitude is deeply human, often hilarious and is the lifeblood of the film.
“Renfield” is based on an original pitch by Robert Kirkman, co-creator of “The Walking Dead,” so you know it will deliver the old-school splatter, but it is the way it updates and pays homage to the Dracula legend, filtered through some very dark comedy, that gives it its bite.
