--- title: "Renfield: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/renfield/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/renfield" critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 23 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Renfield (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 23 reviews: 11 positive, 9 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics agree on one thing: Nicolas Cage’s Dracula is the reason to watch. The reviews describe his performance as committed, over the top and the liveliest thing on screen, with Hoult’s worn-down Renfield a close second and the pair’s scenes together, framed as a toxic boss and his abused employee, the film’s strongest material. The support-group scenes and some of the more inventive kills also earn praise. Reservations cluster around everything else. Many find the one-joke premise stretched thin, the Awkwafina crime-family subplot a distraction, and the violence repetitive enough to grow numbing; several say the film loses its way whenever Cage and Hoult are off screen. The spread is wide, from warm approval at NME, Collider and Consequence to outright rejection at Polygon, which alone finds Cage one-note, and from The Times and The Guardian, who call it tiresome and anaemic respectively. The majority settle on entertaining but unfocused. ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 March 2023. Renfield presents Dracula as the worst boss in the world and Renfield as his abused minion in a co-dependent relationship. The film mixes classic horror pastiche, workplace black comedy, and action, with strong performances from Cage, Hoult, and Awkwafina, though pitched more as dark action-comedy than gothic horror. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/renfield/) ## The AV Club — Jordan Hoffman Rating B-. 11 April 2023. The film is a small-in-scope but fundamentally entertaining horror-comedy that knows what viewers want and serves it up with gross-outs and gimmicks. It lives or dies by Cage camping it up as Dracula, and he delivers. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/renfield-movie-review-nicolas-cage-1850323686) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 2023. Renfield is not a classic monster movie but offers plenty of eye-bugging moments in a neon-drenched, blood-soaked comedy horror. It is a fun Friday night movie that uses Hoult’s droll delivery, New Orleans locations, and CG blood effects effectively. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/renfield-review/) ## RogerEbert.com — Christy Lemire Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2023. Nicolas Cage delivers a delightfully over-the-top performance as Dracula, but the film is undermined by bland subplots and underdeveloped supporting characters that stretch a clever concept too thin. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/renfield-movie-review-2023) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2023. Nicolas Cage gives a standout Dracula performance in this goofy self-help-infused vampire comedy, but the flimsy one-joke structure and added crime subplot leave it feeling underdeveloped despite the fun. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-04-13/review-a-self-help-fueled-vampire-movie-renfield-is-goofy-if-flimsy-fun) ## Radio Times — Dave Golder Rating 3/5. 12 April 2023. The hyperactive horror comedy features gore and gags that splatter the screen but misses as often as it hits. Renfield joins a self-help group and becomes a bug-powered superhero fighting crime, though a better film seems buried inside. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/renfield-review/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2023. Cage dominates as the deranged count with all the best lines and a field day of razor-toothed performance, while Hoult's Renfield is no match; the gory splatter-fest romp earns medium marks for fans of vampire action comedies. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2023/04/13/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult-dracula/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2023. Cage offers a stylishly over-the-top Dracula performance, but the ultraviolent action-comedy is a scattershot grab bag lacking mystery or depth, with a codependency joke that never fully lands amid grafted-on subplots. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult-awkwafina-dracula-1235578215/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2023. Hoult and Cage are fun playing Renfield and Dracula as a dysfunctional work relationship, but the movie has only a comedy sketch’s worth of ideas and feels aimless whenever they are off-screen. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/renfield-sucks-a-funny-premise-dry.html) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2023. The film is bouncy and clever with memorable gory action scenes, but it feels dramatically inert overall, with a strong premise that never fully develops into a satisfying story. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/renfield-reviewed-a-concept-in-search-of-a-movie) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 2023. The film frustratingly shrouds Cage’s manic intensity in thick blankets of winking irony and gets stuck in leaden self-actualization comedy rather than building setups and punchlines. Cage’s committed, inspired performance as Dracula is the only element that truly lands. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult-awkwafina-dracula/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2023. The critic finds fabulous B-movie fireworks between Cage and Hoult but deems the film anaemic overall, with indiscriminate comic-book slaughter and therapy-speak that fails to freshen the material. Cage's knowing gusto as Dracula, channelling Bela Lugosi, stands out as the liveliest element. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/apr/15/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-channels-the-spirit-of-bela-lugosi-nicholas-hoult-dracula-film) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland 11 April 2023. Cage and Hoult have bloody good fun as the well-matched duo at the center, but their efforts are not enough to keep the blood pumping in this messy attempt at reworking old IP. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult-1234827250/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck 11 April 2023. The film is an anemic vampire comedy whose graphic violence grows numbing and repetitive. Cage delivers a virtuosic, entertaining turn as Dracula that perks up the proceedings whenever he appears. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult-1235371323/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★☆☆☆. 14 April 2023. The film is a muddled, consistently tiresome one-joke gore-fest that over-relies on the central gag of Renfield in group therapy for codependent relationships, amid overplayed ultraviolence and underused supporting elements. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/renfield-review-a-tedious-one-joke-gore-fest-q232zrq3r) ## Collider — Maggie Boccella Rating B+. 31 March 2023. The critic finds Renfield a delightful gory ride that balances terror and camp, praising the chemistry between Hoult and Cage and the over-the-top action. They single out the fun, high-camp romp and Nic Cage's performance as highlights. [Read the review](https://collider.com/renfield-movie-review/) ## Consequence Rating B+. 31 March 2023. The critic calls the film cheerfully bloody and funny, praising Nicolas Cage as a perfect Dracula and highlighting the gloriously violent and enjoyable action comedy with its bold visual aesthetic. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2023/03/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult/) ## NME — Nick Levine Rating 4/5. 13 April 2023. A wickedly clever, gloriously gory romp with delightful performances from Cage and Hoult, and flashy action; bloody good fun. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-dracula-3429190) ## The Playlist — Matthew Monagle Rating B. 31 March 2023. Festival review. Cage's maximalist, unapologetic performance as Dracula is the highlight, bringing a timeless yet contemporary monstrous quality. The film balances horror-comedy well thanks to him, though personal growth stories are less engaging. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/renfield-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult-review-overlook-20230331/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2023. The film is an amusing if bloody new take on the classic that succeeds especially with Hoult’s likable and worn-down Renfield seeking independence from his toxic boss. Cage nails the needy Dracula role, and the witty self-help group scenes anchor the mayhem, though it could have dialed back the relentless bloodletting for a more even tone. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/04/renfield-review-nicholas-hoult-nicolas-cage-dracula-movie-1235322420/) ## Digital Spy — Jo Berry Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2023. It's a fun vampire flick with great gore and Cage's performance, but could have been better with more focus on Renfield and Dracula's relationship instead of the crime subplot. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a43578263/renfield-review/) ## Film Stories — Lauren Miles Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2023. The critic finds the focus on Renfield's dependent relationship with Dracula interesting but underdeveloped in favor of bloody action and quips. They single out Nicolas Cage's energetic performance as the film's highlight, calling it an 11/10 Cage performance. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/renfield-review-makes-dracula-into-a-modern-action-comedy/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2023. Cage and Hoult’s chemistry anchors this gory horror comedy, with the film at its best when focused on the codependent Renfield-Dr Dracula relationship and their modern toxic dynamic. The support group scenes and inventive kills provide highlights, but the Awkwafina crime-family subplot feels like a distraction that dilutes the horror hijinks. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-dracula/) ## HeyUGuys — Scott Davis Rating 3/5. 12 April 2023. While entertaining and funny, the film feels unfocused and chaotic, trying to do too many things. Cage's Dracula is the standout, delivering a brilliant, intoxicating performance. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/renfield-review/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 5/10. 12 April 2023. Cage delivers a standout, mean-spirited Dracula that deserves a better film. The movie wastes the premise with a thin plot, unfunny script, and superhero-like action that doesn't mesh well. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1255362/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-dracula-better-movie/) ## Polygon — Siddhant Adlakha Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 April 2023. The critic finds the film distracted, cynical, and clumsy, failing to capture the fun of similar vampire comedies like What We Do in the Shadows. They single out the weak tone, poorly executed action, and Cage's one-note performance for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23679108/renfield-review-nic-cage-nicholas-hoult) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 2.5 out of 5. 13 April 2023. The critic finds the premise fun but the movie jumbled and distracted, praising Cage's magnificent Dracula performance while noting it struggles with too many competing ideas. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/renfield-review-nicolas-cage-dracula/) ## Paste — Brianna Zigler Rating 4.0. 13 April 2023. The review criticizes the film as tonally incoherent and not living up to its premise or Cage's potential, complaining about its insincere self-care angle and lack of genuine satire or fun. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/dracula/renfield-stakes-it-all-on-a-bad-joke) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/renfield.md