Not even the Scenery-Chewer Supreme that is Nicolas Cage could save Renfield from a meager $8 million opening weekend haul that saw the movie have its lunch eaten by Russell Crowe in The Pope’s Exorcist (Renfield’s domestic gross at press time stands at a little over $10 million, not good for a $65 million production). This was very clearly communicated by the failure of Renfield, Universal’s attempt at resurrecting Dracula and his title sidekick in a modern horror-comedy where Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) acted more like a supernatural superhero than the simpering, wild-eyed Dwight Frye of old.
But the one common, unifying monster-slayer they are all powerless against is poor box office. Stakes, silver-tipped canes, and torches are all dependable ways to kill off the classic Universal Monsters.
