This thread is for discussing what you are watching/watched recently.  Let us know what you've seen recently whether it's old or new, good or bad, or anything in between.  Obviously, movies are preferred, but feel free to post whatever you've been watching.  Expect spoilers.
  • redhorsejacket@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    8 months ago

    Watched Renfield (2023) last night. Found it to be a bit of fun, but felt like it under delivered.

    I love the premise of a disillusioned Renfield trying to take his life back from Dracula. Unfortunately, that core struggle gets lost amid a world domination plot, an absurdly well armed criminal empire, corrupt cops, a dead dad sibling justice vengeance tale, and a romance that is basically microwaved Warm Bodies (which was lukewarm on arrival to begin with!).

    Idk. The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am. Some of the action set pieces are fun, and occasionally there’s a bit of effects work that grabs your attention. 2/4 stars.

    • canthidium@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      8 months ago

      Yep, agreed completely. The premise is interesting and Cage is actually pretty good without being too over the top but the rest is tonally all over the place. It tries to be serious and then Jean Ralphio comes in and is a cartoon. I left pretty disappointed at the potential.

      • redhorsejacket@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        8 months ago

        Lmao, okay I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who kept seeing evil timeline Jean Ralphio. Made it very difficult to view the gang as a threat.

        • canthidium@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          2·
          8 months ago

          I love Ben Schwartz. I even saw him and Thomas Middleditch do their improv show a couple years ago. But I always see Jean Ralphio when I see him. It’s just such a good character, lol.

          • redhorsejacket@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            8 months ago

            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.