First look at Nicolas Cage as Dracula in gruesome AF trailer for Renfield

There's something about Nicolas Cage that is truly special.

He knows he is over the top. He knows he's a bit silly. And he runs with it, which is more apparent than ever in the first trailer for Renfield.

The movie is a modern-day take on the Bram Stoker classic character and his humble sidekick R. M. Renfield.

This story will focus on Renfield (played by Nicolas Hoult) and how he has, well, had enough of Dracula's shenanigans.

Based off the trailer, the movie looks bonkers, fun, gory, and silly.

It gives off vibes of Take Waititi's What We Do In The Shadows, with the whole modern day vampire in a modern city sort of schtick.

But, despite the film focusing on Renfield, the whole thing appears to be building up to something: the big reveal of Cage as the titular pointy-toothed, blood-sucking, Transylvanian terror.

Plus, it looks like there will be some fun twists to be had on the classic vampire trope, too.

The trailer opens as Renfield rocks up to a self-help group and tries to articulate what his very abnormal, supernatural, and incredibly possessive boss is like to a bunch of normal folks.

Cue the hilarity.

Oh, and it looks gory and messy as hell.

In the trailer, fans cop an eyeful of blood and body parts. There's an exploding priest, lopped-off limbs, and someone gets a fork-to-the-neck. Wild.

Universal Pictures.

American filmmaker Chris McKay is at the helm of the horror-comedy monster movie, and will direct a stellar cast made up of Cage, Hoult, Awkwafina and more.

Cage explained to Empire: "When I got a sense of where McKay wanted to go, I realised the movie has a comedic, pop art attitude.

"So I thought: 'This will be a pop-art Dracula.' Warhol did a great black-on-black Dracula. This is in that Warhol vein."

Right. What a Nic Cage-y thing to say, to be honest. But, power to him.

Cage is unapologetically himself: quirky, weird, wild, fun, and a bit camp.

And the joy that comes from being all of the above is clear as the film looks like a bloody good time.

The only thing we've been left wondering is this: how has Nic Cage not played a vampire before? Because he is perfect, to be frank.

We can't wait to sink our teeth into this. Renfield hits cinemas on April 14, 2023.