Greetings, and welcome back to October Horror Fest! Today is (when I’m writing this), Day 17, and article three of October Horror Fest! But don’t you worry, daily articles START NOW!!! Of course they’re back, I couldn’t leave them for long! Today, I watched a movie that has been heavily recommended to me. Back during the silver age of horror, villains like Frankenstien and the Invisible Man ruled the silver screen. This was, until, Dracula. In today’s movie, Dracula came back in full force, but with the help of a friend… Without further ado, sit back, relax, turn off the lights, grab some Candy and Popcorn, and let’s review…

Renfield

We start our film with a bang, as we open immediately on Dracula (He’s played by Nic Cage, had to mention it), fighting against members of the church. In the background, as the fight is going on, we see the timid but powerful R.M. Renfield. Before Dracula makes an attempt at one of the church member’s lives, Renfield pauses us, and we cut to his story.

We see Renfield’s story in a black and white flashback scene, where the horror nerd in me went BALLISTIC. It is filmed entirely in the same way as the original Dracula from the 30s. We hear the story from Renfield’s perspective. Renfield is an English lawyer who went to Count Dracula’s castle just for the real estate. He hoped to make a land deal, and he easily gained the favor of Dracula. Dracula makes Renfield his familiar after the two grow closer in partnership, granting Renfield immortality. It also grants him super strength and super speed, HOWEVER, his powers are triggered by eating bugs. Yeah. Back at the fight, it’s been 90 years with Renfield at Dracula’s side. Dracula wins the fight, but he is injured. Renfield takes him out of the castle, and begins our main plot.

The duo moves their operations to New Orleans, where Renfield is tasked with bringing Dracula bodies, and BLOOD. Dracula and Renfield take over an abandoned hospital, where Dracula begins to recuperate back to full power. In the city, however, Renfield is becoming a bit more aware of himself. Renfield discovers a help group for those in abusive relationships. He honestly starts to become really close to the group. He finds their stories sad, and wishes he can help. But that’s just when he finds out he can. Renfield decides his plan is to kill the abusers of all those in the support group, and bring them back to Dracula instead of the blood of innocents. Renfield is confident about his plan, and goes after the first abuser.

He arrives, and immediately shows off his power, scaring the abuser and his group into submission. They stole drugs from the most powerful crime organization in the city, the Lobos. The Lobos actually arrive when Renfield is already there, and take out the abuser themselves. Renfield then goes on the hunt, killing the assassin, and causing Teddy Lobo (2nd in command) to drive off.

Teddy speeds and speeds, until he is actually caught by the cops, in specific, Rebecca Quincy. He’s taken into custody, but immediately released, our first sign that not all is as it seems. Rebecca is furious, and has a discussion with her sister Kate. She’s an FBI agent, but works in the same office. The two are still heartbroken over their father’s death at the hands of the Lobos, and how no justice has been served.

Renfield finally gets back to Dracula with the bodies of the lobos and the abusers, and he is furious. He DEMANDS the blood of the innocent, and Renfield is sent back out. Renfield and Rebecca cross paths at a restaurant. They are both looking for the Lobos, and they arrive. The Lobos try to assassinate Rebecca, but Renfield protects her. The duo book it, leaving Teddy to flee once again, and finally get Renfield on the family’s radar.

At this time, Renfield and Rebecca become close, and Renfield actually begins to enjoy his life. He learns from the support group, starts dressing nicer and in brighter colors, and buys his own apartment. This scene was honestly amazing. Renfield even goes to the police and tries to give a statement on Teddy Lobo, encouraging them to stop him. All is coming up Renfield, or so we think…

In the meantime, Teddy’s mother Bellafrancesca (the true leader of the Lobos) encounters Dracula. She sends Teddy and other foot soldiers to the hospital, where Dracula kills them all, but spares Teddy once he suggests the idea of teaming up with the Lobos. Dracula wants world domination. The Lobos can help him achieve it. Dracula learns of Renfield’s betrayal, and sets out. He goes to Renfield’s apartment and ruthlessly batters him down with his words, stripping away all of the progress Renfield has made. He then, in the most heartbreaking scene of the movie, kills the entire support group in front of Renfield. Rebecca pulls up, and sees Renfield with the carnage. She immediately apprehends him, also heartbroken. Renfield gets in the back of the car, and the rest of the cops show up. They want Renfield. They reveal that they are all corrupt and are working with the Lobos. Rebecca knew it.

Rebecca speeds away, getting hit but still going full speed ahead. Her and Renfield take refuge at her place, with Renfield trying to explain who he truly is. Renfield is honestly heartbroken, and he feels everything is going wrong, although he tries to put on a happy face. The cops and the Lobos arrive, causing Renfield to eat all the bugs in the area, and kill them all. This scene was INSANE, with the duo taking out every single soldier. Renfield and Rebecca know what they have to do. Kate is kidnapped by Dracula, and the pair head out to get prepared. Rebecca buys SO. MANY. GUNS, while Renfield starts stockpiling bugs. The pair arrive at the Lobo HQ, and make their way in. However, it isn’t going to be easy. Dracula has given all of the foot soldiers the same powers as Renfield, and it’s going to be a brawl!

In a bloody bloody bloody fight scene, Renfield takes out all of the foot soldiers, even killing Teddy, but not without sustaining major injuries. Rebecca encounters Dracula, as she sees Kate’s dead body. Dracula reveals that his blood can heal all wounds, and he will heal Kate, only if Rebecca joins him. He attempts the same ploy that worked on Renfield, but now, Rebecca knows the truth. She injures Dracula through sunlight, and the two are able to trap Dracula in a magic circle. And now, the most satisfying part comes.

The two absolutely destroy Dracula, slicing him, ending him, by the time they’re done the only pieces of Dracula are encased in concrete and thrown into the sewer. Kate AND THE SUPPORT GROUP are both revived through Dracula’s blood, and Bellafrancesca is finally, finally arrested, causing justice to live once more. Renfield smiles, and he’s ready for whatever comes next…

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR READING! I hope you enjoy our return to the dailys. And wait, look at the date. Only one more week until Halloween… I’ll see you soon, my friends. And before I go, never trust the Count…