Renfield is patchy. Instead of developing its catchy premise, it's distracted by an underwhelming side plot. Maybe the metaphor was one-note or would've clashed with the tone, but adding filler just weighs everything down. Arcs are either incomplete or unearned, emotions feel insincere, and the substance stays superficial. This muddled material fumbles any heart, dampening the likable, committed, and aware acting. Meanwhile, Cage's expert camp doesn't have the screen time it deserves. For that alone, Renfield is a wasted opportunity. Its exposition dumps, inconsistent humor, contrived plotting, and one-dimensional motivations would've been forgiven if it had prioritized the core relationship.
Technically, Renfield is messy. Its direction has flashes of creativity and intention, but it's also tensionless and disjointed. The imagery uses colorful lighting and motion, yet its shaky combat is chaotic. Its editing offers comedic montages, smash inserts, and timing, but its confused momentum drags. The production design has nice touches yet feels thin, its generic music boosts its genres, and the effects pair impressive makeup with sterile CGI. Its cast is a draw but its supporters are slim. Only the sound is thoroughly engaging with voiceovers, stings, distortions, emphasis, risers, and action. Overall, Renfield is mostly enjoyable, yet doesn't focus on a defining strength.
Writing: 5/10
Direction: 5/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Acting: 7/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 6/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 6.3/10
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