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Don’t Worry, Cocaine Bear Isn’t The End Of Universal’s 2023 Horror Streak
Universal has long been the steward of the infamous Universal Monsters, including Frankenstein, Wolf Man, and The Mummy, so its 2023 horror streak isn't in jeopardy even after the release of its most recent addition to its creepy cohort, Cocaine Bear. The inane horror comedy, about a 500-pound black bear's drug-fueled rampage, has been met with widespread acclaim, adding to the success of Universal's other huge horror success, M3GAN. The killer doll movie, about a child's AI companion gone haywire, set the tone for 2023 by introducing M3GAN as the next horror icon like Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger and generating several hilarious viral dance sequences.
Even though 2023 got off to a strong start with several successful dark comedies, there's only so much interest that can continuously be generated by M3GAN or Cocaine Bear's hilarious memes. Luckily, horror fans have more to look forward to with Universal's cinematic slate, which is riding out a wave of interest in movies with over-the-top death scenes, graphic violence, and colorful characters. One Universal Monster in particular is returning to the silver screen, and his story is told through the unique perspective of his henchman.
Universal Continues Its Campy 2023 Horror-Comedies With Renfield
Dracula, one of Universal's most beloved icons is returning in a campy horror comedy called Renfield, which stars Nicolas Cage as Count Dracula and Nicholas Hoult as his titular henchman. For the first time, Renfield takes the focus off the Prince of Darkness and places it on his loyal lackey as he suffers a conflict of interests. After decades of fetching Dracula's decaying dinner and suffering humiliation, he wants to live a normal life outside the vampire business, but his boss isn't exactly the type to understand his dramatic career change.
After delivering one of the best trailers of movies out in 2023, Renfield looks to make the same wild impression as Cocaine Bear and M3GAN with its combination of action, comedy, and grisly deaths. Dracula has given Renfield special powers, which turn him into something of a supernatural superhero, and some of his big fight scenes against law enforcement and local villagers involve stabbing victims with flatware and decapitating people with serving plates. Amidst all the action, Renfield attends a support group for overworked employees and lets out his frustrations about being Dracula's minion, leading to some of the film's drollest comedy.
Will Renfield Be As Popular As M3GAN & Cocaine Bear?
Given all the anticipation surrounding Renfield, it's expected to be at least as popular as M3GAN and Cocaine Bear, if not more. For one thing, it has a larger budget, and both Cage and Hoult have had successful comedies out in 2022, including The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and The Menu. Hoult's leading performance is generating interest, particularly since Renfield is giving Dracula's henchman much-deserved attention, and horror fans are excited to see Cage's take on Dracula.
Given Universal's current streak with M3GAN and Cocaine Bear, Renfield looks to be the next successful campy horror movie. An amalgamation of established franchise credibility and fresh, original storytelling, Renfield might even create a trend for the production company that could inspire it to churn out more fun movies in a similar vein. The particular type of movies it's releasing lately could finally help Universal figure out the right direction for its Dark Universe, giving all its classic monsters new life through comedy.
