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Thats how Dr. John Seward first describes his patient R.M.
Renfield in Bram Stokers 1897 novelDracula.
Starting from that pared-down introduction, Renfield has become one of the most enduring characters in horror fiction.
Hes the archetype of the vampires eager servant, the simpering sycophant who will do anything for his master.
In the sequel, Renfield marries the witch Baba Yaga and gets kidnapped by a teenage billionaire monster hunter.
(Dont ask.)
This Dracula is living in modern-day Southern California and operating as a businessman under the name Vladimir Sarkany.
He has the same bored expression whether serving papers or running over one of Draculas enemies with a van.
Renfield doesnt do much more than take up space.
Chained and muzzled in a cell, Renfield begs an indifferent Dracula to command him.
Its a futile effort from a character and an actor with minimal impact on the film.
Its an especially distasteful interlude in an already disjointed, off-putting movie.
Nicholss grating maniacal laugh never varies, even in Renfields death throes.
The movie ends with a To Be Continued promise of a sequel that, thankfully, was never made.
Hamiltons Dracula flees Transylvania after the Romanian government seizes his castle, bringing along his longtime servant Renfield.
The man is worthless, Dracula says.
He just works for us, says Edgar dismissively, while Nadja ignores Renfields expressions of affection.
Renfield merely pouts and sighs.
That doesnt last long, though, once Dracula enlists Renfield to spy on Vanessa for him.
Soon Renfield is kneeling at his masters feet and begging for sweeties.
Hes appropriately repugnant as he crawls across the floor so he can sniff the sleeping Vanessa.
Count Dracula has rights, Renfield asserts, and thats enough to secure his release.
Confined to Dr. Sewards asylum, Shepherds Renfield is similarly understated, although he can become unhinged at times.
He dresses in Affliction shirts and has an unfortunate but period-accurate swooping haircut.
Orth mixes naive enthusiasm with the right amount of snark, fitting in perfectly with the charming comedic ensemble.
Roland Topor,Nosferatu the Vampyre(1979)
Werner Herzogs homage to F.W.
Murnaus 1922Nosferatuis, as expected, bracingly bleak and full of existential despair.
Aided by Renfield, Dracula arrives in the German town of Wismar with a ship full of plague-carrying rats.
Like Herzog, hes an eager and enthusiastic guide toward destruction and death.
Hes amusingly hapless until the end, when Dracula curses Renfield, you asshole!
with his final breath and Renfield just pratfalls his way toward a new master.
Its a chilling performance in an otherwise underwhelming production.
Its easy to believe that Renfield can cause a maid to faint solely by laughing.
Parts of the film now come across as stilted, but Fryes presence is as enduring as Lugosis.
