Back 2,000 films ago in his 2005 outing Lord of War, Nicolas Cage mused that there are only two tragedies in this life: not getting what you want and getting what you want.
It's a zinger that comes to mind watching Renfield; a could-have-been-so-much-more comedy-horror that finds Cage in his dream-come-true role as Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Nicholas Hoult plays Dracula's long-suffering servant Renfield, now holed up in New Orleans as their centuries-old toxic relationship takes its toll. One thing leads to another and soon Renfield is dodging the cops and the mob while trying to come up with an exit strategy from the gruesome grind of being at the Count's beck and call.
The USP of Renfield is casting Cage as a down-at-heel/cape Dracula. A mystery, then, as to why it's basically a supporting role - and why he doesn't look taller!
With Cage chewing scenery and necks in equal measure, Hoult channelling bumbling Hugh Grant, and Crazy Rich Asians' Awkwafina, Parks and Recreation's Ben Schwartz and The Lego Batman Movie director Chris McKay also on board, Renfield had loads in the way of comedy clout. But the script is never as funny as the assembled talent would suggest and good action sequences only go so far. It's watchable in a straight-to-DVD way, nothing more.
Perhaps Cage will fare better when he eventually gets to play another iconic character, Jules Verne's Captain Nemo. In the meantime, Hoult has Robert Eggers' Nosferatu on the way. Fingers crossed for more bite there.
