Oh yeah, don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing against the guy, it’s just that his character arc was half baked. In theory, the secondary antagonist being a snivelly little weasel who falls for Dracula’s power as a mirror of Renfield is a fine enough concept, but, much like the other interesting ideas they had, it’s just tossed off without much of a care for exploring it.

I just think the whole script should have gone through a streamlining process. First, ditch the cop love interest It really muddies the waters on what the film is trying to say about co-dependency when the main character is rescued from their codependent relationship by, let me check my notes, getting into a relationship. Second, make the bad guys actually threatening. They tried by giving them a 3rd act level up, but it still felt like no one was challenged in the slightest. Finally, show me more of Dracula and Renfield interacting! Their relationship is the entire crux of this movie, but they only have a handful of scenes together. Which is a damn shame, because I think Hoult and Cage actually lean into the manipulative dynamic there really really well. The idea just needed to be driven home.

Between The Last Voyage of the Demeter and this, it’s been a disappointing year for Dracula movies.