History Film / Renfield2023

* BigBadDuumvirate: Dracula is naturally the main villain, but he's eventually joined by [[spoiler:Bellafrancesa Lobo, who allies her crime family with the vampire so they can both TakeOverTheWorld.]]

* BondOneLiner: More of a Bond ''Villain'' one-liner when [[spoiler:the police chief severs ties with the Lobos, saying he wants out, then leaves the room only for Teddy to tear his head off and send it back into the room.]]

* ChurchMilitant: The Church has been sending out vampire hunters to kill Dracula for centuries. While they're no longer as prominent now (with the last official cell being killed some time ago), Dracula associates every church as a threat to him, including, sadly, [[spoiler:the church where Renfield's support group meets.]]

* TheCorrupter: The film plays up this aspect of Dracula's personality. Renfield outright says that the vampire's greatest power isn't supernatural, but his ability to bring out the worst in people and exploit their desires to bring them under his control. This is most blatantly seen with [[spoiler:Teddy Lobo, who drops his previous apprehension towards violence and killing once he gets some of Dracula's power.]]

* DoesNotLikeSpam: Dracula prefers the blood of the pure heart. Renfield is trying to assuage his guilt by capturing bad people and feeding them to his master. When Renfield drags a scuzzy drug dealer and the beheaded corpse of a contract killer to Dracula, he finally gets fed up.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Bellafrancesa Lobo doesn't think too highly of her son Teddy, but [[spoiler:when he disappears after running into Dracula, she wastes no time mustering ''the entire New Orleans police force'' to help find him.]]

* ExactWords: A protective circle has to be made with powder and the proper Latin words. Nowhere is it stated that a specific kind of powder has to be used. [[spoiler:During the climax, Rebecca makes a protective circle out of cocaine]].
* ExactlyWhatIAimedAt: In the final battle, [[spoiler:Renfield is downed and Dracula has Rebecca by the throat and gun hand while hovering overhead. The most Rebecca can do is put some bullets through Dracula's foot... and drip his blood onto Renfield.]]
* ExplainExplainOhCrap: Renfield tries to talk Teddy out of working with Dracula by saying he'll just become Dracula's slave like he did. Teddy starts to blow him off, saying that his master would... and then he stops the thought there, realizing what he just said.

* HeelRealization: Sort of, since Renfield is already aware that he's a bad person working for a murderous vampires. [[spoiler:He spends the entire film blaming Dracula for his actions and leaving his family, and while he is trapped in an abusive relationship with the vampire, Dracula points out that Renfield left his family due to his own moral weakness and desire for a better life. Renfield later admits to Rebecca that Dracula was right, that he chose to leave his family of his own free will, at which point he becomes more determined to actually stop Dracula.]]

'''Dracula:''' (DeathGlare) I...am...Dracula.

* IgnoredEpiphany: Teddy appears to go through one of these when [[spoiler:he instinctively refers to Dracula as "Master" during his battle with Renfield, proving that he's just the vampire's slave like his enemy was. He refuses to believe it, and his persistence in fighting Renfield only gets him killed.]]

* MentorOccupationalHazard: [[spoiler:Mark, the leader of the support group,]] is killed by Dracula [[spoiler: though he and the rest of the support group are brought back by Dracula's blood later]].

* MissingStepsPlan: Dracula's new plan to take over the world is to find more people like Renfield to use...and that's it. He seems to think that it'll just put itself together once that's done. [[spoiler: Getting together with the Lobo crime family is ''a'' step, at least.]]

** One to the original ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' novel. Rebecca's father is named Morris Quincy, a reference to Quincey Morris, an American cowboy and one of Lucy Westenra's suitors from ''Dracula'' who helped defeat the Count. (Ironically a character AdaptedOut by most film adaptations of the novel)
** The circumstances of Renfield meeting Dracula and falling under his control are presented as an extended reference to how ''Film/Dracula1931'' depicted these same events. Several key shots from the 1931 film are even recreated with Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage in place of Creator/DwightFrye and Creator/BelaLugosi. Likewise they play music from Theatre/SwanLake which is a shout-out to the fact the music was used for the opening credits in the 1931 movie.

** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d [[spoiler:in the epilogue: there's so much conflicting lore about how to permanently kill a vampire, that Renfield and Rebecca decide to just try everything (and even then, Renfield admits he's still not sure this will be permanent).]]

* AmbitionIsEvil: While Dracula seemed content with simply traveling and eating people throughout the years, Renfield inadvertently gives him the idea to take over the world, joining the Lobo Crime Family being his first step in world domination. According to Renfield's narration, this has always been a FatalFlaw of his; every time he returns to full power, he can't help but go on a rampage, which just draws vampire hunters to his location and sets him back to square one.

* TokenGoodCop: The abrasiveness and/or ineptitude of all the other cops at her precinct drives Rebecca Quincey crazy even before [[spoler:she begins to realize most, if not all, of them are in the pocket of the Lobos]].

The film was released on April 14, 2023. Notably, it is the first of two 2023 films by Universal based around ''Dracula'', the second being ''Film/TheLastVoyageOfTheDemeter''. It was spun off from [[WhatCouldHaveBeen an idea gestating]] around The Franchise/DarkUniverse, the first attempt at a reboot.

The film was released on April 14, 2023. Notably, it is the first of two 2023 films by Universal based around ''Dracula'', the second being ''Film/TheLastVoyageOfTheDemeter''.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: At the end of the movie, [[spoiler:Renfield fills a pitcher with Dracula's blood to resurrect as many people as he can. It's still usable after spending about a whole day at room temperature, although this could be hand-waved as due to its supernatural qualities.]]

* FamedInStory: While Dracula and Renfield are real people in this setting, everyone seems to know who Dracula is.

* NamedByTheAdaptation: The title character is known only by his surname in most ''Dracula'' adaptations. Here his full name is given as Robert Montague Renfield.

** Everything about Reinfield and Dracula's relationship is perfectly reflective of how co-dependant relationships actually function. Jono of WebVideo/CinemaTherapy calls the scene of Dracula in Renfield's apartment "one of the best-written scenes I've ever seen about what a co-dependant relationship with a toxic narcissistic abuser, what that looks like." Dracula tells Renfield they're together because of Renfield, not Dracula, dismisses Renfield's attempts to establish boundaries and assert himself, claims invulnerability then pivots and insists Renfield is the abuser and Dracula the victim, belittles Renfield and ultimately threatens violence, all real-life tactics of abusers to retain control of their victims. It's also pointed out in the film that co-dependant relationships aren't limited to romantic ones, even if that is what's most commonly thought of. A friend, co-worker, or boss could be a toxic narcissist and abuse a co-dependent in exactly the same way. Renfield even goes through ''literally'' the textbook steps of attempting to break free from such a relationship, reading from his guidebook to try and keep Dracula at bay before Dracula snatches it away.

* SomewhereAnEntomologistIsCrying: Part of Renfield's settling into his new life involves bonding with his neighbor by adding a live ant to the boy's ant farm. A real ant colony would never welcome an outsider of any kind, and would probably swarm and kill it due to different pheromone signatures. They literally wouldn't pass the sniff test.

* AgeLift: The Renfield of the original story was 59 years old when he fell under Dracula's power. This version of Renfield appears much younger (Nicholas Hoult was 33 during filming). [[spoiler: Justified, as the opening reveals the film to be taking cues from the classic 1931 movie ''Film/{{Dracula|1931}},'' where Renfield was played by the similarly aged Creator/DwightFrye.]]

* AdaptationalPersonalityChange: Many adaptations of Dracula would portray Renfield as incredibly deranged, excitable, lunatic. In this film, he is more of a passive and meek partner in an abusive relationship.

** Several characters hate {{ska}} music, with one cop cursing that it's not dead yet and Caitlyn realizing how messed up she is when she tries to defend it.

** Nicolas Cage's mannerisms as Dracula are all explicitly based on Creator/ChristopherLee's Dracula.

* ShownTheirWork: Everything about Reinfield and Dracula's relationship is perfectly reflective of how co-dependant relationships actually function. Jono of WebVideo/CinemaTherapy calls the scene of Dracula in Renfield's apartment "one of the best-written scenes I've ever seen about what a co-dependant relationship with a toxic narcissistic abuser, what that looks like." Dracula tells Renfield they're together because of Renfield, not Dracula, dismisses Renfield's attempts to establish boundaries and assert himself, claims invulnerability then pivots and insists Renfield is the abuser and Dracula the victim, belittles Renfield and ultimately threatens violence, all real-life tactics of abusers to retain control of their victims. It's also pointed out in the film that co-dependant relationships aren't limited to romantic ones, even if that is what's most commonly thought of. A friend, co-worker, or boss could be a toxic narcissist and abuse a co-dependent in exactly the same way. Renfield even goes through ''literally'' the textbook steps of attempting to break free from such a relationship, reading from his guidebook to try and keep Dracula at bay before Dracula snatches it away.

* DomesticAbuse: Several people at Renfield's support group are there because they were in a codependent and abusive relationship with their exes. Dracula and Renfield's relationship isn't portrayed as romantic, but the subtext is definitely there.

* CompositeCharacter: As in the 1931 film, Renfield's backstory is changed so that he was a British lawyer who came to help Dracula buy up land, much like Jonathan Harker. In fact, the opening scene is a near shot-for-shot remake of Renfield's first meeting with Dracula from the original movie, right down to being filmed in black and white.

* TheBadGuysAreCops: Aside from [[CowboyCop Rebecca]], every officer at her precinct is either on the take from the Lobo gang or are too intimidated to go after them. DaChief goes out of his way to shame Rebecca for challenging this status quo, and there are no other cops willing to go to bat for her. [[spoiler: It crosses fully into this trope when it's revealed that '''all''' of the cops on the force are on the take, and they spend the rest of the movie trying to kill Rebecca and Renfield so they can't interfere with the Lobos anymore. [[CurbStompBattle Well, they try]].]]

* {{Corpsing}}: Dracula when he sees Renfield's new rainbow sweater. {{Pun}} very much intended.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine Stop serving. Start living.]]'']]

Set in modern-day New Orleans, the film follows Robert Montague Renfield (Hoult), now disillusioned from decades of playing familiar to the narcissistic Count Dracula (Cage). But when a chance encounter with badass cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina) gives him a taste of life beyond servitude to history's most feared vampire, he sets out to find a way to end his co-dependent relationship with his master.

* {{Narcissist}}: The film very blatantly diagnoses Dracula as one, from his delusions of grandeur, to making Renfield do everything for him (either because he is incapable or simply can't be bothered) and [[JustGivingOrders hoisting the moral burden onto him]] when he starts to rebel. Just the fact that he has his familiars call him "Master" is proof enough, really.

Set in modern day New Orleans, the film follows Robert Montague Renfield (Hoult), now disillusioned from decades of playing familiar to the narcissistic Count Dracula (Cage). But when a chance encounter with badass cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina) gives him a taste of life beyond servitude to history's most feared vampire, he sets out to find a way to end his co-dependent relationship with his master.

The film released on April 14, 2023. Notably, it is the first of two 2023 films by Universal based around ''Dracula'', the second being ''Film/TheLastVoyageOfTheDemeter''.

* AmbitionIsEvil: While Dracula seemed content with simply traveling and eating people throughout the years, Renfield inadvertently gives him the idea to take over the world, joining with the Lobo Crime Family being his first step in world domination. According to Renfield's narration, this has always been a FatalFlaw of his; every time he returns to full power, he can't help but go on a rampage, which just draws vampire hunters to his location and sets him back to square one.
* AndThisIsFor: When he prepares to kill Mitchell, Doug, and their friends and bring them to Dracula for feeding, Renfield introduces himself as "a friend of Caitlyn's," meaning it as a PreAsskickingOneLiner. They're not too intimidated, until they see Renfield in action.

* AnyLastWords: [[spoiler:Renfield and Rebecca ask Dracula if he has any last words after trapping him in the sacred circle. Dracula, knowing he's beat, declares he's looking forward to spending a season in Hell, "Where the amusing people are." Then he ''throws up the horns'' and declares "HAIL SATAN!" before they cut him down.]]

* AssholeVictim: When choosing potential victims for Dracula, Renfield tries to ensure that he only selects horrible people who have hurt others. Unfortunately, according to Dracula at least, their low character has a detrimental affect on their blood’s flavour.

* BondOneLiner: More of a Bond ''Villain'' one liner when [[spoiler:the police chief severs ties with the Lobos, saying he wants out, then leaves the room only for Teddy to tear his head off and send it back into the room.]]

** Dracula's blood having the power to heal wounds. [[spoiler:Rebecca uses this to save Renfield's life during the FinalBattle, and it's later used offscreen to resurrect Rebecca's sister and Renfield's support group.]]

* {{Corpsing}}: Dracula when he sees Renfield's new rainbow sweater. Pun very much intended.

* DoesNotLikeSpam: Dracula prefers the blood of the pure of heart. Renfield is trying to assuage his guilt by capturing bad people and feeding them to his master. When Renfield drags a scuzzy drug dealer and the beheaded corpse of a contract killer to Dracula, he finally gets fed up.

* MoodyTrailerCoverSong: The red band trailer manages to do this with the already moody [[Music/{{Radiohead}} "Creep"]].

** The circumstances of Renfield meeting Dracula and falling under his control are presented as an extended reference to how ''Film/Dracula1931'' depicted these same events. Several key shots from the 1931 film are even recreated with Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage in place of Creator/DwightFrye and Creator/BelaLugosi. Likewise they play music from Theatre/SwanLake which is a shout out to the fact the music was used for the opening credits in the 1931 movie.

* {{Nepotism}}: It is blatantly obvious that the only reason Teddy is as highly ranked in the Lobos as he is, is because he's the boss's son, though he is fairly well liked within the gang, with members even offering to kill Rebecca for him because of his clear reluctance.

** Dracula in this movie is more of a classic movie vampire, complete with the power to shapeshift into smoke or a swarm of bats, but also has an entire mouthful of razor sharp teeth like more modern portrayals.
** It's implied that the difference between whether Dracula turns someone into another vampire or just a familiar is based on how much of his power he chooses to imbue them with. How exactly he does this in the first place is never really explained. For one thing one of the traditional methods of turning someone, drinking a vampire's blood, instead just heals their injuries with no apparent side effects.

* PayEvilUntoEvil: Renfield tries easing his conscience about finding victims for Dracula by targeting the Support Group's abusive partners. This doesn't get him very far, since Dracula favors "pure" victims and it gets the attention of the Lobo Crime-Family.

* PleaseSpareHimMyLiege: [[spoiler:Renfield begs Dracula not to hurt the support group, saying they're good people. Unfortunately, that just makes Dracula want to kill them even more, as blood of good people tastes better to him. Plus, the fact that they're dear to Renfield and provide him with a support system and a life outside of Dracula is the ''precise'' reason Dracula wants them gone. Isolating the victim from anyone who wants to help them and preventing them from making connections with others is {{Domestic Abuse}}r 101.]]

* SackheadSlasher: The contract killer Renfield encounters, Apache Joe, sports a patchwork sack mask and deals primarily in bladed-weapons.

* SignatureLaugh: Renfield does his briefly during his encounter with Mitch and his goons.

* VampireHunter: These are routinely dispatched by the Catholic Church to kill Dracula, with the AutomaticCrossbow to match. A group of these and their bishop get wiped out in the beginning, but still injure Dracula so badly that he spends the next century recovering. It's implied that the Church sent more after Dracula anyway, as Dracula intends to destroy the Vatican as part of his world conquest, and Renfield mentions that at this point, they've been chased out of every country on Earth.

* WeakButSkilled: Downplayed but Rebecca being a regular human puts her at a physical disadvantage against Dracula's powered-up minions. Her police training and marksmanship still allows her to fight them on fairly equal terms.

* SomewhereAnEntomologistIsCrying: Part of Renfield's settling into his new life involves bending with his neighbor by adding a live ant to the boy's ant farm. A real ant colony would never welcome an outsider of any kind, and would probably swarm and kill it due to different pheromone signatures. They literally wouldn't pass the sniff test.

* WouldHitAGirl: All of the Lobo gang members [[spoiler:and bought-off police]] they send after Rebecca and Renfield. [[ThereIsoKillLikeOverkill They pay for it dearly.]]

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: [[spoiler:Faced with the task of killing Dracula once he's captured, Renfield and Rebecca opt to mutilate his body in every possible way, encase whatever's left in cubes of cement and dump those into the sewer. Justified because, as Renfield points out, there's no single accepted way to kill a vampire and Dracula has returned from apparent death many times before.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine Stop serving Start living.]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine Behind every great monster is an overworked sidekick.]]'']]