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Renfield is the name of one of the characters featured in the iconic novel that Bram Stoker wrote in 1897, which was the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola‘s hit 1992 film, and many more.
In the original vampire story, Renfield, who is in a mental asylum, is Dracula‘s servant, who helps him find victims and carry out his plan to conquer Mina Harker (convinced that she is the reincarnation of the woman he loved in his past life). Renfield became Count Dracula’s “familiar” after the vampire promised him immortality, so he agreed to do his every whim in exchange for the count feeding him insects as part of the transformation process.
Renfield is not the protagonist of the story, but that changes in the film by Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage, where the vampire’s servant lives in the modern world and discovers that what he has with his master is a toxic relationship and that he must find the way out of that to achieve their own happiness.
This is no longer the typical story of the vampire who terrorizes the world and searches for the love of his life, but instead becomes the story of a frustrated and desperate assistant, but in a comical way that makes us think through the laughter, comedy, and outlandish situations.
Renfield is the Best Vampire Movie You Must See
The Dynamic Between Hoult and Cage, and Awkwafina
Nicolas Cage is one of those actors who can do it all; he’s risky, intense, and a fan of disturbed characters, and he was practically born to be Dracula, or at least Vampire movie‘s version of Dracula.
The three actors have perfect timing for comedy; they know how to respond to each other and create an interesting, funny, and strange dynamic that is perfect for this story, where everything shines with a touch of absurdity and irreverence.
Dracula as a Toxic Boss
Renfield is deceived by Dracula from the beginning; the vampire promises him immortality, and it is evident that he will never give it to him because it serves him more as a manipulable human who can go out into the world to fulfill any type of mission, and this film gets to the point where Renfield finally realizes this.
And Dracula is no longer just an evil vampire but an oppressive and toxic boss who seeks to control every element of his servant’s life, from what he wears to where he lives, what he eats, and what he’s allowed to do. The vampire is still in need of blood and victims, which Renfield gets him, but he is also an “emotional vampire,” which leaves him drained of energy and the will to live.
Renfield’s Journey and How We all Connect with It?
On the other side of the toxic relationship is Renfield, who has allowed and tolerated his boss’s abuse for years, thinking that it will lead him to get everything he wants, but eventually discovers that it is not the case, and that is where we can see him as one of many real people today.
Deep down, we all feel a little like him, so we can better connect with this servant who gave up everything for a promise that was never kept and who has caused him more trouble than he bargained for.
Camp and Lots of Comedy
Deep down, this is still a story of terror, death, blood, and evil and manipulative vampires, but Renfield‘s great success is to turn everything into a very camp comedy, where the classic elements of the novel are transformed.
We see an extravagant Dracula, with pointy teeth and a haunting presence, but also a servant who gets “superpowers” by eating insects, who is hopelessly in love with a policewoman and all he wants is to have control over his life, and a colorful apartment where you find a wardrobe full of pastel shades and pieces that Dracula would not allow you to wear.
The laughs don’t stop, the jokes are smarter than they seem, and the story makes fun of something that can happen to all of us (face with a toxic boss) and unsuccessful efforts to change the situation.
