It opened on April 14th 2023, I saw the film the next day on the 15th. As soon as I got home, I gave a short note about the film on my Letterboxd. From the moment we open, there are nods not just to the story of Dracula, but other vampire movies. Vampires Anonymous, Midnight Kiss, Subspecies, Love at First Bite, Vampire Effect, Vampire in Brooklyn, Innocent Blood, Frankenstein, Fright Night and of course Vampire's Kiss.
There is a scene where Cage is basically tossing a nod to his own movie Vampire's Kiss, where he is yelling at Renfield in the same tone of voice and mannerisms that his character of Peter Lowe does when he's belittling Alba for not finding the files he asks for.
I loved the inclusion of the connection to the Quincy P. Morris character from Dracula, as he rarely gets acknowledged, by making the female lead a "Quincy". When we're introduced to the mob family, there is a secret experiment/operation happening in the background behind a sheet. This is a nod to Frankenstein or some could argue Re-Animator.
Finally, a vampire movie that takes back the bite. It deals with some of the common metaphors that vampire stories were founded on pre-Twilight; such as addiction, manipulation and abuse, fear of the outsiders, bad parents, humanity vs morality and greed.
This is one of the few times that we have gotten to see a Renfield character who's not crazy. Where it's addressed, that if he's been given just enough vampire blood, he's clearly going to be more than human. The last time a movie really tackled that question was Vampire in Brooklyn.
And then...I should have written a review for it right then, only I couldn't. I had no idea what to say about it at the time. This is a movie that I have been waiting to see for a very long time. As a vampire fan and someone who has always considered myself a bit of a Renfield; this was an important movie.
I first heard about it being in production back in 2020. Three full years ago. I know it got delayed because of covid like so many other things. And to be honest, I sort of figured it had been forgotten because of it, given we hadn't heard a thing about it till mid-2022.
Then the trailers started to air. This was going to be a quirky horror comedy. Emphasis on the quirky horror. At times, it is so over the top you can almost see the storyboards that the director and screenwriter had created. It slaps fantastically like From Dusk Till Dawn did when it first rambled across screens. The gore, and there is a lot of it, has at times, a cartoon element to it. But that doesn't in any way take away from the heart of the story. It's one man's struggle to find his footing in a world that is no longer his, yet is completely his for the taking.
That in itself, one could say is the perfect metaphor for vampirism.
The biggest theme in this film, and honestly, the one everyone seems to be latching onto is the abusive relationship between Renfield and Dracula. And rightly so. Once again, I bring things back to the other vampire movie that Cage did nearly forty years ago; Vampire's Kiss. where Cage's character is both the abused and the abuser. Nicolas Cage was built for playing characters in the vampiric genre. He's proven he can see both sides of the coin needed to be both the "Dracula" and the "Victim/Bride/Renfield".
I wanted to wait till after the blu-ray was released in Canada before finishing my review. As I knew there were many bonus features added to it. And the wait was worth it. From a commentary to a bunch of alternative cuts to a fantasy dance scene and more still. There is just a lushness to this movie, with both of the lead male actors in some of their best roles ever.
I was very happy to learn from the commentary track that 95% of the movie was done in camera with practical effects. That made my enjoyment of certain scenes even better. And the irony is not lost on the fact the last big vampire movie to have been made in the era of practical effects was Bram Stoker's Dracula from 1992. It makes it feel like this beautiful full circle.
Getting back to some of the underling themes in this film. There is almost a 'clan war' between the character of Teddy and Renfield after he becomes a familiar himself. Teddy's character is part of a mob family and a drug addict in his own right. We see his lust for power played out in a few different forms, the main one being his self declared top doggery over Renfield, whom he just assumes is not on his level. This power play between them adds a layer to the theme of social class, which the film tackles in a not so subtle way. It's seen between Dracula and Renfield, between the members of the police force and Quincy and even between Dracula and Teddy's mother.
My only real criticism of this film is the ending. It is set up as a bit of an inside joke and happy ending, but it only leaves you wondering if the cycle will be repeated; as a bunch of characters become vampires because of Renfield's actions. Does that make him the new Dracula so to speak? I eagerly await a sequel to find out.
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