Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Renfield.
Renfield is one of the hundreds of vampire films in the last century to grace cinema’s silver screen. The 2023 sequel to the 1931 movie of the same name delivers the perfect blend of horror and comedy with just the right about of sentiment to lend it the uniqueness it needs to stand out among the crowded table of undead brethren. However unique it might be, though, the movie begs certain questions that are as timeless as the Prince of Darkness it honors.
Nearly a century after a near-death encounter with sunlight in Transylvania, Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) have now scampered to the bowels of New Orleans in search of peace and quiet, and the hope for gallons of innocent blood.
Still recovering from being burnt to a crisp, Dracula’s body is nothing but fleshy tissue, exposed sinew, and regenerated patches of skin. Still, blood courses through his veins, and after lashing out at Renfield for failing to bring him innocent victims, we learn that Dracula’s blood has the ability to heal wounds. He dribbles his red-black blood over Renfield’s exposed stomach, from which Renfield’s intestines threaten to spill out onto the floor. Miraculously, the wound heals.
Later in the movie we also see Dracula’s blood quite literally bring Renfield’s cohort of 12-step co-dependent survivors to life, whom Dracula viciously murdered, as one does. Rebecca’s (Awkwafina) sister was also brought back to life by drinking Dracula’s blood. At this point, we know Dracula’s blood can do basically anything. But can it turn someone into a vampire?
Does drinking Dracula’s blood turn you into a vampire?
The history of vampires has been explored through numerous movies, tv shows, and novels. In shows like Vampire Diaries, in order to become a vampire you must die with vampire blood in your system, and then seal the deal by drinking your first drop of human blood when you wake up. In novels like Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, you become a vampire only after indulging in the blood of your sire.
Unfortunately, the question is never formally explored in Renfield. Because Renfield’s cohort of 12-step co-dependents were all murdered by Dracula, some having been bitten, and then brought back to life by Dracula’s blood, it doesn’t seem as though drinking the blood of your sire does not do the trick in this universe.
Then again, one could argue that Dracula didn’t truly bite his victims, he tore their throats out, which is valid. If only he had been more delicate with his killing; we might have had a better theory to go off of.
Like the method of killing a vampire, the process of turning a human into an undead in Renfield appears to be intentionally vague. One has to hope that this ambiguity implies there will be a sequel to answer the question, but that all depends on if there’s a sequel to be had. As of now, it’s safe to assume that drinking Dracula’s blood, or the blood of any vampire, is not the catalyst that turns you into the walking dead.
Renfield is currently playing in theaters.