Renfield has received mixed reviews due to repetitive action sequences and lack of character development, it's a huge audience pleaser with Cage's performance being the stand-out.

Universal attempted to bring a cinematic universe of monsters to the big screen in 2017. The studio announced a whole slate of movies with a massive cast of A-list actors ing what Universal called the Dark Universe. The roster included Johnny Depp as The Invisible Man, Javier Bardem as Frankenstein's Monster, and Russell Crowe as Dr. Jekyll. The Dark Universe was kicked off with 2017's The Mummy, but after the movie was slammed by critics and underperformed at the box office, Universal canceled everything. However, Renfield is a step in the right direction and could be the promising launching pad of a new Dark Universe.

Renfield Subtly Sets Up A New Monsters Cinematic Universe

The Lobos in Renfield

Renfield is full of Universal Monster Easter eggs that could simply be fun references, but they could just as likely be laying the groundwork for a much bigger Dark Universe than just a Renfield 2 or a Dracula spin-off, which Cage has alluded to. The most notable hint of an expanded universe is the Lobos crime family. The mob family uses wolf symbolism for almost every aspect of its operations, such as emblems on the family's vehicles and the masks they wear when they break into the Mulates restaurant.

There's so much Wolf-related imagery with the Lobos that they could somehow be connected to the Wolfman. The existence of other monsters in the universe would explain a lot, as all of the Renfield characters have indifferent attitudes when they learn about the existence of Dracula. Between Teddy Lobo (Ben Schwartz) and Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina), none of the characters are all that surprised by Renfield's former employer. That could be because they're already desensitized to the supernatural.

Renfield Proves How Universal Will Avoid The Dark Universe's Failures

Nicolas Cage smiling creepily as Dracula in Renfield.

The Mummy was a huge failure for Universal, making $410 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), which sounds like a lot, but it's an underperformance given its $195 million budget (via Deadline). However, Renfield rights that wrong, as the movie has a budget of just $65 million. While it certainly won't make $400 million, especially when competing with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it doesn't require half as much at the box office to be a success. However, Renfield succeeds in so many other areas where The Mummy failed outside of its budget too.

The 2017 movie's biggest problem was turning the franchise into a Cruise-led action movie from an adventure horror, which was what made it so unique in the first place. While Renfield could have featured more scares, as it's more comedy than horror, it's a major step in the right direction. Where The Mummy was drab and uninventive, Renfield is full of color with creative set designs, not to mention Cage's over-the-top make-up and outfits. It's exactly what a fun monster movie should be, unique from anything else in the current movie landscape, and the ideal starting point for a new Dark Universe.