#ryan ridley

[jerichopalms]

#63: Renfield (2023, dir. by Chris McKay)

#renfield #movies of 2023 #movie poster #chris mckay #ryan ridley #robert kirkman #ava tramer #female screenwriters #women screenwriters

[adamwatchesmovies]

Renfield (2023)

If those who would most enjoy Renfield go into it with low expectations, they’ll find an imperfect film that (mostly) caters to their tastes. This movie has such a great premise and such a good cast. If only the screenplay and story were better. I liked it more than I didn’t but while watching, I kept wondering “I should love this… why don’t I?”

Like in the novel by Bram Stoker, R. M. Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) is transformed into Dracula’s familiar when he meets the Count (Nicholas Cage) in the early 20th century. Unlike in the novel, Dracula and Renfield survive and defeat Van Helsing, along with every subsequent would-be vampire slayer they encounter. In modern day, Renfield has grown tired of the abuse Dracula throws his way. While searching for fresh victims for his master, Renfield crosses paths with Teddy Lobo (Ben Schwartz), the son of the notoritious Lobo crime family. The bloody aftermath catches the attention of police officer Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina), who holds a grudge against the Lobos and is looking for an ally against them.

Even without doing any research, I could’ve told you from his performance alone, that Nicolas Cage is a massive fan of 1931’s Dracula. It’s pretty clear Robert Kirkman (who pitched the story but did not write the screenplay) and director Chris McKay are too. The film begins by showing us new versions of the most well-known scenes from the 1931 film, with the sets either recreated with immaculate attention to detail or the new actors digitally added in. For anyone who loves the Universal Monsters, it’s a delight to see new performers re-interpret the material. Remember the first time you saw the Spanish version of “Dracula”? It’s that exciting. Cage, in particular, is such a good fill-in for Bela Lugosi. Hoult doesn’t quite look like Dwight Frye and may not bring the same intensity to the role, but he turns out to be a wholly different kind of servant to this prince of darkness anyway, so it won’t bother you at all.

After the dynamite intro, we dig into the story. It’s a fun idea to show Renfield, now 90 years into his servitude, getting fed up with his situation. There are some good laughs as Dracula physically and emotionally abuses Renfield while he slowly builds the courage he needs to face this vampire he could never hope to defeat on his own. This Count doesn’t insta-die when exposed to sunlight, is super strong, immortal, able to fly, can transform into a swarm of bats, hypnotize people, turn into mist and recover from practically any injury given enough time and blood.

The problem with Renfield is that we don’t explore the vampire-familiar dynamic enough. The Lobos and Officer Quincy plot, with Renfield stuck in the middle, eats up about 60% of the film. While the scenes of Quincy and Renfield teaming up against a bunch of Lobos goons means there’s plenty of comedic gore, that's not what you came to see. Then, when we finally get back to Dracula, he announces he’s going to take over the world! With Renfield gaining superhuman strength and agility whenever he eats bugs, this horror-comedy (and I use the word horror in theory here, as none of this picture is even remotely frightening) starts to feel an awful lot like a superhero film. A superhero film that isn’t taking itself seriously but come on. I came here for a vampire movie with a fun anti-romance twist. Give me that!

Since I mentioned the gore, I want to praise the special effects. There are many shots of people get their arms torn off or getting ripped apart, gutted or dispatched in other hideous ways. In any other movie, you might ask “wait, how did they even manage to stand upright if they were that easy to turn to shreds?”. Here, it’s all part of the fun. The most impressive SFX are in the scenes showing Dracula in various states of injury. Be it a scorched skeleton that can talk or a gooey blood sucker with half his skull showing and all sorts of bits barely hanging on, it’s all mega gross and well done. I’m pretty sure most actors hate having to sit in chairs while tons of makeup are applied to them, but I’d wager that after seeing the results, Cage was like “oh yeah, I’m totally willing to do with 4-5 more times.”

In the end, I’m going to rate Renfield right down the middle. More than once, I was loving it. I felt like this movie had been made specifically for me. Far too often, however, it let me down. I know it probably doesn’t make any sense, but it’s a disappointment that I’m nonetheless glad I saw and have some affection for. (September 10, 2023)

#Renfield #movies #films #movie reviews #film reviews #Chris McKay #Ryan Ridley #Robert Kirkman #Nicholas Hoult #Nicolas Cage #Awkwafina #Ben Schwartz #Shoreh Aghdashloo #Brandon Scott Jones #Adrian Martinez #2023 movies #2023 filsm #Dracula

[brokehorrorfan]

Renfield will be released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital on June 6 via June 6 via Universal Pictures. Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage star in the horror-comedy about Dracula’s loyal servant.

Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War) directs from a script by Ryan Ridley (Rick and Morty), based on an idea by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Adrian Martinez, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Brandon Scott Jones round out the cast.

Special features are listed below.

Special features:

Audio commentary by producer Samantha Nisenboim, screenwriter Ryan Ridley, and crew

Monsters & Men: Behind the Scenes of Renfield featurette

Dracula UnCaged featurette

Stages of Rejuvenation featurette 

Flesh & Blood featurette

Fighting Dirty featurette 

Deleted & extended scenes

Alternate takes

The Making of a Deleted Scene: Renfield’s Dance featurette 

Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.

Pre-order Renfield.

#renfield #dracula #nicolas cage #nicholas hoult #nic cage #horror #dvd #gift #robert kirkman #awkwafina #ben schwartz #adrian martinez #chris mckay #ryan ridley #universal monsters

[spookytuesdaypod]

spooky tuesday is a (now not so new!) podcast where we’re breaking down all of our favorite slashers, thrillers, monster movies and black comedies on the new scariest day of the week.

hello, there! would you like to sign our petition to get the dance sequence reinstated in nicholas hoult’s renfield (2023)? it’s tragic the way that deleted scene was left on the cutting room floor, but with your help, we can not only get it back in the movie but also get the whole movie remade as a musical! here at spooky tuesday, we think nic cage’s take on a modern-day dracula had a lot of potential, but we also have some notes. while we loved the gore and the fact that someone snorted a centipede, let’s just say the central love story was no romeo & juliet. on our latest episode, we’re sharing our vision and calling out all the CLEAR references to the vampire lore that came before.

give spooky tuesday a listen on apple podcasts, spotify, iheart radio, or stitcher

#renfield #nic cage #nicolas cage #nicholas hoult #chris mckay #robert kirkman #ryan ridley #ava tramer #awkwafina #ben schwartz #brandon scott jones #shohreh aghdashloo #horror podcast #horror movies #movie review podcast #horror movie podcast #horror movie review #movie review #gay horror podcast #spooky tuesday #new spooky tuesday episode

[geekcavepodcast]

Renfield Final Trailer

Renfield is finally ready to break free of his codependent relationship with his boss Dracula. Let’s see how that works out for him.

Renfield stars Nicholas Hoult, Nicholas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, and Adrian Martinez. Chris McKay is directing. The screenplay is written by Ryan Ridley from an original idea by Robert Kirkman.

Renfield hits theaters on April 14, 2023.

#renfield #dracula #nicholas hoult #nicholas cage #awkwafina #ben schwartz #adrian martinez #chris mckay #ryan ridley #robert kirkman #universal pictures #TGCLiz

[moorheadthanyoucanhandle]

I WANT A NEW BUG

Opening in theaters this weekend:

Renfield--The wild-eyed, insect-gobbling toady to the Vampire Prince became a horror icon in his own right more than ninety years ago, when the great Dwight Frye unleashed his unforgettable giggle in Universal's original Dracula. It's a little surprising that he hasn't been given his own movie vehicle sooner.

But while Nicholas Hoult, who plays the title role in this horror spoof from Universal, briefly gets to do a respectable imitation of Frye's deranged laugh (hrrrr, hrrrr, hrrrrrrr....), he otherwise plays R. M. Renfield without mania, as a modest, mild-mannered, good-hearted fellow. He's also an action hero; munching bugs gives him superhuman strength and martial arts skills and recuperative powers.

His decades of servitude have made him reflective as well; he's come to entertain the possibility that he might just be in a toxic relationship with his boss. He's started attending a support group for people in a similar boat, both to explore his own emotional needs and to scout for victims--the abusers that people at the meetings describe--to serve as food to his convalescing sanguinary master.

The film is set in modern-day New Orleans, where Renfield has brought the charred remains of Dracula after the duo's last tangle with fearless vampire killers. The Count isn't looking well, but he's still able to bully and shame his poor lackey into submission, and he's a little more menacingly intact every time we see him. Then when Renfield comes to the attention of both a local crime family and of a New Orleans cop (Awkwafina) with an angry grudge against the gangsters, he must decide whose priorities he will focus on, Drac's or his own.

Directed by Chris McKay from a script by Ryan Ridley and a story by Robert Kirkman, Renfield is very silly and often heavy-handed. It's extremely gory, but like last month's Cocaine Bear, the gore is played strictly for laughs and lacks any true shock; it's too insubstantial to pack much punch even as a gross-out. The satirical points about modern self-help culture and pop psychology are trenchant enough, but they've pretty much exhausted themselves before the film is half over.

That said, Renfield is colorful, fast-moving and full of comedic invention, and Hoult is charming and easy to root for. Awkwafina pushes pretty hard, as she has in almost all her movies except The Farewell, but she also gets across an honest fury and grief, and when she lets herself connect with Hoult she lightens up agreeably. Shohreh Agdashloo has a gleefully sinister glint in her eyes as the queen of the crime family, Ben Schwartz is properly loath-able as her imbecilic son, and the support group offers some fine character players.

The movie would carry a lot less weight, however, without its other Nick. Growling through a mouth full of pointy teeth, seething with grievance at his reduced circumstances and unable to maintain the air of grand menace he's trying for, Nicholas Cage offers probably the goofiest parody version of Drac since George Hamilton in Love at First Bite back in 1979. Unlike Hamilton's, however, Cage's Count isn't meant to be lovable. Cage sinks his fangs into the role, and taps a rich vein of malignant narcissism.

#renfield #nicolas cage #nicholas hoult #awkwafina #chris mckay #ryan ridley #robert kirkman #shorheh agdashloo #ben schwartz #bela lugosi #dwight frye #universal monsters #dracula

[fearsmagazine]

RENFIELD - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures

SYNOPSIS:  Renfield is the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula. Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after about 100 years of servitude, Renfield has found a new spark and is ready to see if there is a life beyond the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. As part of a support group he is trying to figure out how to end his codependency.

REVIEW: Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ridley take on the age old story of master and servant as they take Stoker’s “Dracula,” shift it 100 years into our time, and deliver a hilarious gorefest that hits all the right notes, in the tradition of “Evil Dead 2” or “Shaun of the Dead.” It largely falls on the shoulders of writer Ryan Ridley whose name might be familiar to you as a writer on the “Rick & Morty” series.

The script is fantastic. It's loaded with a great plot, fun jokes and tons of visual gags. While it is Renfield’s story, Dracula gets his fair share of screen time. The screenplay lays the groundwork for what’s transpired for all those unfamiliar to the story, and adds some nice touches for those diehard Universal Monster fans. After that, all best are off as this thrill ride is balanced with a character arc that serves up an instant horror classic.

In terms of cast, Hoult and Cage are great together, but Cage steals the show. Both deliver performances of a lifetime, but Cage is on fire. His Dracula is comparable to Campbell’s Ash in the “Evil Dead” franchise, and earns its place in the catacombs of horror film history. Awkwafina and Ben Schwartz have a bunch of memorable screen moments, but Holt and Cage get more screen time and totally rock the film. The fantastic thing is that the entire cast is channeling the feel of the film that makes it a fantastic ride.

The production values are dazzling. Dracula has a wardrobe to rival Cher and it pays homage to all the incarnations of the count. I loved Dracula’s coffin design, the lair of the gangsters, Dracula’s lair and the restaurant where Renfield encounters the Lobo gang. The film is loaded with practical effects that deliver all the delightful gore. The visual effects enhance and complement them seamlessly and just ramps up the energy of the film. RENFIELD is simply a feast for the eyes.

Nicely wrapping all this up is a contemporary soundtrack and a sensational score by Marco Beltrami. The best way to describe it is that it adds a baseline to the film. It underscores the action and adds to the emotional intensity to the film.

Universal has been struggling to revitalize their monster franchise for a contemporary audience. They’ve had some okay films, such as 2014’s “Dracula Untold,” and some misses like 2017’s “The Mummy,” with Tom Cruise. Kirkman, Ridley, McKay, Cage and Holt get it and come together to deliver, I believe, an unsurpassable genre fan pleaser and I think a real crowd pleaser. If the fans are lured to the theaters this could be the shot to reinvigorate the Universal Monster Franchise. If there is a sequel, it’s going to need to be a reteaming of those in front and behind the camera. Otherwise, they could easily do a new film in a similar theme called “Igor!” On my radar to see again.

CAST: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Adrian Martinez. CREW: Director/Producer - Chris McKay; Story/Producer - Robert Kirkman; Screenplay - Ryan Ridley; Producers - Bryan Furst & Sean Furst; Cinematographer - Mitchell Amundsen; Score - Marco Beltrami; Editors - Ryan Folsey, Giancarlo Ganziano and Mako Kamitsuna; Production Designers- Julie Berghoff & Alec Hammond; Costume Designer - Lisa Lovaas; Special Effects Supervisor - Matt Kutcher; Special Makeup Effects Artists - Steve Costanza, Dan Crawley, Alex Rondon and Brian Sipe; Visual Effects Supervisor - Andrew Byrne; Visual Effects Companies - Crafty Apes, Skulley Effects, ILM and Pixel Magic. OFFICIAL: www.renfieldmovie.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/renfieldmovie TWITTER: www.twitter.com/renfieldmovie TRAILER: https://youtu.be/qZjAPG9uY3c RELEASE DATE: In theaters April 14th, 2023

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

#film review #movie review #renfieldmovie #universalpictures #chris mckay #robert kirkman #ryan ridley #nicholas cage #nicholas hoult #awkwafina #ben schwartz #dracula #horror #comedy #joseph mauceri #joseph b mauceri

[moviesandmania]

RENFIELD (2023) Reviews of Nicolas Cage Dracula comedy

‘Sucks to be him’ Renfield is a 2023 American comedy horror film about the character of Count Dracula’s servant R.M. Renfield, based on Bram Stoker‘s novel. It is described as a “modern-day adventure story that is comedic in tone.” Directed by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War; The Lego Batman Movie). Nicholas Hoult (The Menu; Jack the Giant Slayer; Warm Bodies) is playing the titular character…

View On WordPress

#2023 #Bram Stoker #Chris McKay #comedy horror #Count Dracula #movie film #Nicholas Hoult #Nicolas Cage #Renfield #review review #Robert Kirkman #Ryan Ridley #trailer

[captainfreelance1]

Rick and Morty pay a visit to the Citadel of Ricks, in Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind Rick and Morty s1 e10. I love stories about the multiverse and this one delivers several thrills, chills and spills. If you ever get the chance to watch it check it out.

#Rick and Morty #Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind #Rick and Morty Season 1 #Rick Sanchez #Morty Smith #Council of Ricks #Citadel of Ricks #Multiverse #Adult Swim #Justin Roiland #Dan Harmon #Stephen Sandoval #Ryan Ridley

[whovianbuffalo]

In my heart I want it to be Justin, but it was almost definitely Abed

#Justin Roiland #Abed Gheith #Abed Nadir #Ryan Ridley #GVP #grandma's virginity podcast #January 6th #January 6th insurrection #stop the steal

[filmbook21]

#Blade Runner 2049 #Ryan Gosling #Harrison Ford #Ana de Armas #Denis Villeneuve #Ridley Scott #2017

[pedroam-bang]

“I’m so happy when I’m with you.” - Joi

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

#2017 #2049 #film #movie #science fiction #Blade Runner 2049 #Blade Runner #Denis Villeneuve #Ridley Scott #Ana de Armas #Joi #Ryan Gosling #Officer K #Harrison Ford #Rick Deckard #LAPD #Los Angeles #California #Roger Deakins #Philip K. Dick #replicant

[brokehorrorfan]

Dracula is one sucky boss in Renfield, which opens in theaters on April 14 via Universal. I’m giving readers in the Boston area the opportunity to see the horror-comedy early - and for free!

Broke Horror Fan is sponsoring an advance screening of Renfield at AMC Boston Common in Boston, MA on Tuesday, April 11, at 7pm. Click here and follow the instructions to download complimentary passes while supplies last. Seating is first-come, first-served and not guaranteed, so be sure to arrive early!

Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War) directs from a script by Ryan Ridley (Rick and Morty), based on an idea by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage star with Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, and Adrian Martinez.

In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency.

#renfield #nicholas hoult #nicolas cage #awkwafina #dracula #contest #article #ben schwartz #adrian martinez #chris mckay #robert kirkman #ryan ridley #horror #horror comedy #boston

[sillylittlegods]

#ridley scott #cinema #blade runner 2049 #climate change #ryan gosling #mackenzie davis #denis villeneuve

[geekcavepodcast]

Renfield Trailer

After centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to break free of his boss, Dracula. It’s rough being in a co-dependent relationship with your boss.

Renfield stars Nicholas Hoult, Nicholas Cage, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, and Adrian Martinez. Chris McKay is directing. The screenplay is written by Ryan Ridley from an original idea by Robert Kirkman.

Renfield hits theaters on April 14, 2023.

#renfield #dracula #nicholas hoult #nicholas cage #awkwafina #ben schwartz #adrian martinez #chris mckay #ryan ridley #robert kirkman #universal pictures #TGCLiz

[cloudtinn]

Blade Runner 2049 (2017), dir. Denis Villeneuve.

#movies #blade runner 2049 #blade runner #denis villeneuve #films #film stills #cinematography #cineshots #ryan gosling #ana de armas #ridley scott #cloud_tinn