Movie Review: Renfield

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to Movie Review.

Vampires, these human creatures are known for being isolated in abandoned house or castle in darkness, but only showing up in the middle of night for blood and lust at beautiful women, as well as sleeping in the coffin from the daylight without getting disintegrated. Or having a a pissed off vampire boss to our unlikely main hero, who happens to be our old friend Nick Cage.

“Renfield” is a 2023 horror comedy film that was produced/directed by Chris McKay, co-produced by Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan Furst and Sean Furst, and written by Ryan Ridley (for screenplay) and Robert Kirman (for story).

The idea came back in 2014, where Universal Pictures wanted to bring back classic monster movies, but reboot in modern way, they started with Dracula Untold, but it was badly received, resulting a second reboot with The Mummy in 2017, but the result is somehow, EVEN WORSE! Which not only its also badly received, but it got flopped at the box-office for their second attempt, resulting to going back to the drawing board for Universal, by making another Dracula movie, after the movie got into a development hell, along with redemption of their remake of The Invisible Man in 2020, they’re getting back into the project, while they originally hire Dexter Fletcher as the director, but Dex bowed out to focusing on his remake of “The Saint” with Paramount, leaving Chris McKay took over as the main director to changing to a typical horror or lame action (since what they did to both Dracula Until and The Mummy remake), they changed into a horror comedy which they took an inspiration idea from “What we do in the shadows” by Taika Waititi. Not to mention, this isn’t the first time we have Nicolas Cage in a vampire movie, the one I know (haven’t seen, yet) is Vampire’s Kiss in 1988.

So, with all that said, will Renfield gets a respect for follow Drac’s order, or Dracula deserve better to be the main title?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie even Dracula’s servant, it could be unique, but kinda confusing.

The movie begins with an origin around in early 20th Century, where we introduced Dracula who’s welcomed to an English then lawyer named Robert Montague Renfield to coming in his castle in Transylvania, but thanks to Dracula’s cunning, creepy hypnotic and narcissism to him, Renfield has becoming his assistant with greater power like strength and speed, but only way to use the powers, is to consuming bugs. Fast forward to present time, Renfield has lost his touch after constantly carrying dead bodies for his master Dracula, leaving him secretly entering the self-help group in order to change his life to be codependent. However, his confrontation of crimes are ruined thanks to the group of assassins trying to kill Renfield and the second generation of Quincy family named Rebecca, while Renfield kills the assassins, the assassin enforcer Teddy Lobo got away and having Dracula being isn’t very pleasing over crime body that he wants innocent people, leaving Renfield have a hard time to figuring out to trusting his master, its up to him for either keep working with Dracula and trying to turning him away.

Yeah, I may like the idea of an assistant trying to be free from being enslave from Dracula may sounds like a good idea that he wants to spicing up his life in modern world after more than decades, while he still has powers from bugs. However, its the execution would’ve been works, its mainly the direction could be confusing if Renfield is either trying to live with new life or gotta fight the bad guys from Lobo family for both him and Dracula, as well as his attempt to have a chemistry to Rebecca Quincy, despite she’s looking for a clue after the crime scene after the killing crimes. It feels like its mean to be a main hero trying to break free, but with a buddy cop element for the clues of killing crimes and facing against the mob family in New Orleans, which again, il give a credit for the idea, but the execution is nearly confusing for either the direction or the writing.

Speaking of which, it also has a humor, which I will admit, its kinda funny, even if some that they’re trying to be funny are rather off that they tried, well, maybe except for Nicolas Cage, cause well, if you’ve seen my review of “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”, you know Nick Cage gave us his unique level of his… Humor and acting how he gave us for years.

The writing isn’t as good for the plot and some elements about an assistant trying to break free, which I may like the idea, but the execution just didn’t mesh well from either writing problem as questionable subplot.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget costs $65M, while it looks kinda cheap, but, looks pretty good.

With the movie’s story suggested, they obviously filmed in New Orleans, and its a nice location pick for of the movie, it looks beautiful and some of the apartments like in hotel, restaurant and abandoned apartment are either creative, unique and even grim. Speaking of grim, the lighting pick whenever are in disturbing or some of the action, are a nice pick, kinda like they took a similar color light of Creepshow. One weird part of the filming is when they pulled the imitation of classic Dracula film from 1931, which they had to editing out from Bela Lugosi’s Dracula and Dwight Frye’s Renfield with both Nick Cage and Nicholas Hoult in the old movie, while rest are recycled for the purpose of the backstory, again, I find it odd to have both current actors replacing the late actors in the 1930’s to do the imitations.

As for the design, like I said, the location design are pretty cool to have a grim feel in the abandoned apartment or even Halloween themed restaurant. Though the outfit designs are minimal, with the exception of Dracula’s outfit that I will admit, looks pretty nice looking, in a narcissism way.

And finally, what better way to have the action scenes, which whenever Renfield eats a bug, this is where he goes into Beast Mode with abilities with a brutal beating and killing, while its obviously done with some practical and the CG blood and gore. While some blood are fake as CG, but man, its a pretty cool, brutal and gory action scenes of body counts.

While there some questionable idea of the presentation, but the film’s presentation looks pretty fascinating and of course, brutally gory in action scenes.

The Characters

While it has some elements from Dracula, you think the modernization of it could gave us some unique character developments? Well, technically yes, but again, questionable execution.

Lets start off the title protagonist Robert Montague Renfield (played by Nicholas Hoult), the main Dracula’s assistant who’s been with him from decades before felt exhaust and being treated like Dracula’s slave, despite he wants to going out freely to changing his life, while using special abilities from consuming bugs. I find him an ok protagonist, which again, I appreciated the idea for his character development that he wants to be free than being stuck with Dracula’s order night by night, but the execution would’ve gone better. Not to mention, despite Hoult did a nice work of role for his narration, but he’s not like Dwight Frye for being nearly overactive and creepy, but more like a struggling and awkward man, which again, despite nice work of his role, but his depiction of Renfield is a different story.

Next up is Dracula himself (played by Nicolas Cage), a legendary vampire from Transylvania who greeted Renfield as his assistant and later on, a narcissistic time-bomb vampire boss. Despite his looks is obviously similar to Bela Lugosi, but man, he’s such a new level of his narcissism and being a Dick to Renfield. But like I said, what do you expected when it comes to Nick Cage’s delivery in his method acting for being explosive to creepy, especially when giving him a spiky teeth.

After that, we have Rebecca Quincy (played by Awkwafina, jeez 4th time to bring her in my review…!), the traffic cop of NOPD who happens to be a second generation of Quincy Family since Quincy Morris, which she went from traffic cop to investigating a clue. I find her to be passable, while she’s in frustration for doing her job and want to know solving the killings to support her sister Kate (played by Camille Chen) and her late father, even if she’s not in a mood of BS in order to know from the killing investigation. Even though she’s nowhere in sense of humor (perhaps), but she did a good work of her role.

Next, we have Teddy Lobo (played by Ben Schwartz, aka Sonic The Hedgehog), the main evil rival against Renfield for his mother’s order in purpose to take Dracula’s power to taking over New Orleans. I find him also passable, he started of bringing his assassins to kill Renfield to spiral into madness when he meets Dracula, as if he wants to taking a same power over his target for again, sabotaging New Orleans. He maybe over-the-top, but he’s nowhere high as Cage’s Dracula, I guess it explained why I prefer his role of Sonic. Aw well.

And lastly is the Bellafrancesca Lobo (played by Shohreh Aghdashloo), a mob boss of Lobo Family for, like I said before, to sabotaging New Orleans to take Renfield out of picture to bringing Dracula. I will say, she’s quite of menacing villainess in this movie, mainly for bring her son to assassination mission to finding a legendary vampire. Not to mention, despite she Iranian-American, but her voice as mob leader is pretty deep of threatening that I can’t help but sounds like Gozer from Ghostbusters, which she actually does in “Ghostbusters Afterlife”, maybe il review it in my future (as well as classic ones).

As for the rest of them, there’s aren’t much else, despite some that are important.

Such as Mark (played by Brandon Scott Jones) is the leader of self-help group, and Chris (played by Adrian Martinez) who’s Rebecca’s partner.

While the original Dracula characters like Renfield and Dracula himself have a changing depiction after the 9 decades, some characters are either ok to would’ve gone better, but il give a credit to some actors, maybe except for Renfield.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, Renfield is an average movie at best what Universal Pictures trying to do another remake.

While I like the idea of the story, some good acting and a one helluva violence in action scenes. But its just that the execution is kinda weak for its writing of subplots, a weird inclusion from 1931’s Dracula in a purpose of flashback Renfield’s delivery would’ve gone better compare to Dwight Frye back then.

This is the movie for another classic monsters remake, this one is pretty unlikely to have another box-office attempt, but as im writing this, it received less as more than $25M compare to $65M, yeah, this movie came out in bad timing to battling against some serious competitors…

Do I recommended this movie? Im not so sure about, maybe you can see it once if you like or hate this movie, sure it has good ideas, but the execution could’ve gone better.

For my rating, im gonna give this one… 5.5/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to Movie Review.

Back in 2017, I reviewed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which while its a pretty good one, but not as greater as the first one. Though if you asked, yes, I did watched the first Guardians of the Galaxy and I will say, its a pretty damn good and funny movie involving our unlikely group of heroes in the galactic journey and later helping out The Avengers in the Infinity sage. But like I said in last year, all good thing in MCU is going down, since many fans (probably myself included) are gonna be on and off for some average to tiresome movies and even shows on Disney+, I may like MCU, but its just its starting to getting old that it makes either Michael Bay’s Transformers and Fast and Furious run for their money, but I digress. But of course, we’re gonna have our favorite group for the third, and final journey.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is a 2023 MCU superhero movie that was written and directed by James Gunn and produced by Kevin “You-know-who’s-in-MCU” Feige.

After the success of the second volume, James Gunn announced he’ll make a third to make a continuation after the cliffhanging ending in Vol. 2 (which we’ve been waited for so long after the Infinity saga), mainly the buildup of Adam Warlock, despite Warlock was originally meant to be in the second one, but left out until the third one. While the development went well to build up, but everything crash and burn in 2018, when Gunn’s old tweet is discovered over his controversial topics involving… How do I call, “Disgusting misconducts”, Disney immediately fired him, which it ended up becoming a problematic development that without Gunn, it’ll ended up in a bad result, even James Gunn had to not only delete his old tweet, but had to apologizing for his controversial tweet, and yet he was still ousted resulting many supports and petitions that we want him back to finishing his third one, otherwise he’s gonna be gone to Warner Bros to working on DC superhero movies, including his sequel of The Suicide Squad, but I digress. After all the support that we want him back, Disney rehired Gunn put him back on his duty, despite the project was on hold over the controversy, but again, Gunn got back in the business after his discussion with the aforementioned The Suicide Squad, though the draft had been changing that some will kept in the first draft and some has to change or cut off, but like I said in the introduction Gunn proclaimed that this will be the last journey of Guardians of the Galaxy for good.

So, with all that said, will this be a worth of farewell, or is farewell isn’t worth of our patience from controversy?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

As a last one of the trilogy, it quite of a fascinating story, but in an emotional way.

It begins in their new headquarter at the village ship called “Knowhere”, where Rocket is walking to see how’s going to the familiar Guardians from build up the places, relaxing and Peter Quill accidentally laid out from drinking. But the peaceful didn’t last long when our guardians are attacked by a powerful artificial being named Adam Warlock (after he was hinted in GofG2), including one point where he brutally wounded Rocket. It turns out not only Rocket is wounded, but also has a kill switch device in 48 hours to death. Its up to our Guardians to find the way to keep Rocket alive without losing him.

This one is a rollercoaster ride of action and emotional, its not easy to feel for the movie, since we’re hesitant that we want Rocket alive from what he’s gotten. And this is where the plot element that we’re having, while our guardians are trying to save Rocket, the movie goes into Rocket’s dream, which we finally found our his origin after he kept himself secret from many movies in MCU, which we found out he started as a regular raccoon from very harsh experiment from the mad scientist named “High Evolutionary”. But let me tell you, without giving you a spoiler, the way he did the experiment is down right dark and sickening for what he’s done, but trust me, il get to him later. Like I feel very sorry for Rocket for his origin.

Oh btw, aside of emotional plot element of Rocket’s origin, remember the build mentioned build up of Adam Warlock? Well, we assuming he’s gonna be the new villain or an anti-hero, but good lord, what they gave us of Adam Warlock for the subplot is a complete disappointment that we’re getting, its as if we can’t wait to see, but completely ignored about Adam Warlock that its all about trying to save Rocket from High Evolutionary. Talk about a wasted opportunity for overhyped build up of Adam Warlock, such a shame…!

Despite of some problem from the writing, at least that, along with heartfelt moment, it also has some humor that it does made me laugh and chuckle, aside the obvious pop-culture references, it also including one point of dropping a full F-Bomb. Oh yeah, did I mention its a PG movie? Big no-no for a full F bomb than other and sorta safe swearing. In fact, this is probably the first MCU film with full F Bomb, and surprisingly, it wasn’t even on the script, but rather Chris Pratt’s idea to James Gunn. Damn Mario, didn’t expected to hearing a full F Bomb in final cut…!

While the writing isn’t as perfect, but boy, its quite fascinating for the story and emotional element.

The Presentation

Once again, the film’s presentation looks pretty fascinating in a good’ol green screen, with $250M.

At first, its no stranger that its filmed on green screen set at Trilith Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as hiring some crew members that they worked with James Gunn’s DC films like The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, as well as previous Guardians of the Galaxy movies like Volume 2 and Holiday Special, as well as Stagecraft with the help of Industrial Light and Magic. But in fairness, they also filmed outside of studio like in London, England.

Anyway, the worlds’ setting are pretty pretty cool like a hometown ship of Knowhere (which its obviously a gigantic head act like a planetary ship to gruesome space headquarter called “OrgoScope”, which is is made of organs, at least the interior looks nicer than outside. The ships designs are, while cool, but some could be generic, cause like I always said, nothing’s new nor original without trying to ripping off Star Wars (even if both Star Wars and MCU are both belong to Disney). There’s also Counter-Earth, while it easily looks like our home planet Earth, but with a twist like new world sets and filled with humanoid animals, its quite surprising, but SPOILER ALERT, that planet is sadly didn’t last long (“My disappointment… Is Immeasurable...”).

As for the designs and effects, they always look good and always, stay classy from the previous installments. While some designs remains the same as we all know like Rocket, Drax, Mantis, Nebula and some others, but some have some update like Groot and maybe others. While some outfits are remains the same, but has a update and even changed like Nebula with special arm, the new outfit of Guardians of the Galaxy and sadly, Star-Lord is no longer wearing his signature mask on. Despite some update and changes, they’re pretty nice to gave us. As well with some cute and heartfelt ones like Rocket’s old friends.

The same could be said for the effects with qualities, details and such with a co-operation with many special effects studios other than Industrial Light and Magic.

Of course, since this is MCU film there’s also giving ourselves into action scenes, the action scenes are fun to see, even if some that could be brutal and even hard to watch, especially out of nowhere to start to see Rocket got wounded with a kill switch inside his body. But then again, while the action moments are there, but it always has an emotional way, but hey, at the least the action scenes are good.

Of course, I forgot to mentioning that in two previous GotG movies, classic musics are playing for the action or on the journey, I mean, what do you expect if you love to listening the “Awesome Mix” either CD and a vinyl, I mean, its pretty unlikely to giving us an audio cassette--

AZ-06 Ayla: Actually they will.

Anthony (me): What’s that?

AZ-06 Ayla: They will releasing a physical audio cassette on this year’s July.

Anthony: Oh, well you know what they say “Life imitates the arts”.

As always, the film’s presentation are pretty cool for the designs, actions, the world building and even listening classic music from Star-Lord’s mixtape.

The Characters

This one is no stranger to have some unique change to our familiar characters, as for the new ones, well its more like 50/50.

Lets start with the Guardians themselves, starting with Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (reprised by Chris Pratt), a half-human/half-celestial after being abducted and being part of Ravagers with his appreciation of retro stuff from his childhood. But in this movie, it seems he’s no longer the same what used to, he’s becoming depressed that, since Infinity War and Endgame, they lost Gamora before got picked up and killed by her father Thanos, which means what Peter got is the alternative version of her, which, while he’s funny as always, but he’s pretty much in state of depression, leaving his difficult to be the leader and his constant argument. I know that without the original Gamora, the group will never be the same, especially for Peter’s interest and his leadership going down. But as always, Pratt did a fun work of his role.

Speaking of emotional subject, lets get to Rocket (reprised by Bradley Cooper), a bounty hunter raccoon with his crafting skills of either tools or weaponry. Well, its not for the case of him, which he didn’t got himself into action due to getting brutally wounded by Adam Warlock, which it sucks, but there must be a purpose to bring us to a flashback for where we finally found out how he became and… Boy, its very emotional for what I just saw. You see, he was taken to the experiment from High Evolutionary (more on him later) and used to have a friends like Lylla the otter (voiced by Linda Cardellni) who motivates him to be brave and strong (which is pretty heart warming from her), Teefs the walrus (voiced by Asim Chaudhry) and Floor the rabbit (voiced by Mikaela Hoover). I mean, it feels like it makes me wonder when he’ll see them again for emotional reunion, but again, not gonna spoil it, its just really hard to feel sorry for Rocket what he just saw and gotten into, we know he likes to keeping his origin in secret until we finally found out about. While Cooper still did a fun work, but man, the way he’s written in a tragic way is just… Really heart broken, like I nearly cried for what happened to him.

Next up is Gamora (reprised by Zoe Saldana), its not the same Gamora what we used to, since she was tragically killed off, instead what we got is the alternative version of her that she’s brought over in Endgame and she’s completely opposite compare the previous one, she’s more focused to be part of Ravagers as a leader and no time for relationship with heartbroken Peter Quill. Yeah, this alternative Gamora is no longer the same as what we used to, she’s more serious and being no non-sense at the guardians, leaving her feels like she’s on late Thanos’s side than being nice to them. Zoe did a nice work of her role of alternative Gamora and from what I heard, this is the last time she played the character and moving on. Well I guess it explained that again, she’s no longer the same as the one we used to.

And last updated member is Nebula (reprised by Karen Gillan), a former assassin turned good into guardians after Endgame. I’d say she’s good to be in Guardians of the Galaxy, which is especially the case when she got tortured by her adopted father Thanos, which I felt bad for her before and im glad she turned good against before. Here, im assuming she’s meant to be the next Gamora, especially when she’s meant to be the love interest to Star-Lord, but alas, it didn’t happened. While I like her bad turned good after what happened both Infinity War and Endgame, but I’d say she’s passable for her update, but of course, Gillan did a good work of her role.

As for the rest of the guardians and some extras, they’re rather the same, but with slightly updated, there’s Drax (reprised by former WWE champ Dave Bautista) who’s the brute member of the guardians, but he’s also funny from Bautista’s performance, but like Saldana, this will be Bautista’s final role of Drax. Aw well, he was fun for his role.

Mantis (reprised by Pom Klementief)m Quill’s half-sister with empathy ability, who’s just… There to control the people’s feeling.

Groot (reprised by Vin Diesel, aka Dom Torreto from Fast and FAMILY), a grown up humanoid tree and being Rocket’s sidekick, but like Mantis, he’s just there.

Kraglin (played by Sean Gunn since Vol. 2, and he’s James’s brother), the extra guardians who’s going to taking like Yondu’s torch, but he’s just staying in Nowhere with Cosmo the do (voiced by Maria Bakalova).

And Stakar Ogord (reprised by Sylvester Stallone), the high rank Ravager who’s still showing in cameo for the purpose of, as Josh Revell called, “High Profile Appearances for the sake of High Profile Appearances”.

What about the new ones? Well, only two focuses what we’re focusing, aside the aforementioned Lylla.

First is the third villain of GotG, High Evolutionary (played by Chukwudi Iwuji) a mad cyborg scientist who creating an experiment of fusion to creating new species, but in a cruelty way. Yeah, since what we saw he did to Rocket and other animals, he’s downright cruel, narcissistic sociopath and… pure evil to those poor animals. He’s like if Cruella De Vil going into a science experiment but even worse than skinning animals. He’s definitely the new love to hating the villain for his responsibility of torturing these poor animals for his sake of fusion. Not to mention, he’s always being a two face, where one time he’s a charming man to a ticking time-bomb to manipulating his workers for his experiment and refusing to take “no” for answer. Though I will give a credit for Iwuji’s performance, but boy, the way he’s depicted and written is downright monstrous.

And the lastly is Adam Warlock (played by Will Poulter) after all the wait we’re getting, he’s now becoming… The most disappointing character we ever got. In this movie, it feels like came out too little too late after the build up of Vol. 2 or even many MCU films, but once he came in, he wasn’t a main villain, he’s more like a neutral if he’s either good or bad, especially he’s meant be going after the guardians take them down from the creator Ayesha (reprised by Elizabeth Debicki). And not to mention, Adam is also depicted as mama’s boy whenever something isn’t going on his way in his quest with Ayesha. Though im nothing against Will Poulter, I think he did a nice work, but its just the way he’s depicted and written is not only too little too late, but also a very disappointing execution after the wait we had…!

Aside some characters may or may not has purpose or downright overhyped, but the characters both the original and the new villain are pretty good and the cast had a blast of their performances, at least some will leaving after the third and final one of the trilogy.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a pretty good one, but not as greater as the first movie, but its pretty emotional and its probably a satisfying conclusion of the trilogy.

Story is good with emotional tone, the presentation looks impressive as always for MCU (for the most part), the actions are fun as always too, and some characters are good and well-written for something new and updated.

However, its nowhere perfect with some problems less action from Rocket for emotional development (which is understandable that we want to know), some writing could be flawed and a wasted buildup of Adam Warlock.

Like I said, this is the guardians send off of the trilogy what James Gunn was told. And its not hard to see why for having emotional tone what he gave us, in fact, I nearly cried while watching the third and final act to having a satisfied ending, but again, not gonna spoiling it. Which I recommend to see this movie to giving us the last hurrah of the trilogy.

For my final rating, im gonna give this one 8/10. I was close to giving it 9, but due to some issues it deserves to given an 8 in the end.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out