Jay Rohr
A curious sideshow attraction, the adventure thriller Novocaine is a cringe-inducing, chuckle-filled extravaganza of charm and carnage. A seriously unserious movie, it leans into the absurdity of its action to mine it for dark comedy gold. And unlike the Deadpool franchise, you won’t need to see fourteen other movies and know twelve pop culture references to get one punchline.
Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) is proof people can exist without living life. His overly cautious habits stem from a congenital insensitivity to pain that means he can’t feel injuries, so could be mortally wounded by accident without knowing it. After a magical evening with coworker Sherry (Amber Midthunder), Nathan erupts from his shell ready to experience all the world has to offer. Unfortunately, the first thing existence offers are vicious bank robbers. When they kidnap Sherry, using her as a hostage, Nathan throws caution into the woodchipper along with himself to rescue her.
What follows is hardly a damsel-in-distress story. Amber Midthunder thoroughly proved in Prey (2022) she’s an action star and while Novocaine could have given her more combat, she gives as good as she gets. Fortunately, she’s also a solid performer as the film takes the time to flesh out her character as well as Nathan’s. It’s not just what they say but the way they interact which gives them facets fueled by quality chemistry between Jack Quaid (The Boys) and Midthunder that sells their roles as well as the romance motivating most of the movie. Novocaine does a great job of creating an emotional investment in its protagonists. Part of that’s because this is a movie about embracing life without fear.
Sure, there’s a certain predictability to the hostage crisis. Where Novocaine excels is by following that route down comical, extreme, and oddly logical action-packed paths. Every step of Nathan’s journey makes sense. His pursuit never relies on convoluted contrivance or chance. Everything is a choice with consequences, many of which result in amazing action sequences. Novocaine then shines by making these moments storytelling opportunities in addition to thrilling segments.
From the bank robbers’ savagery to Nathan’s reluctant fights, the film often says something about its characters through violence. For instance, Quaid starts out as someone uninterested in hurting anyone but gradually embraces, not so much bloodshed, but the edge his condition gives him in combat. This constantly results in shocking, unexpected fight decisions and dark comedic injuries. But there’s never a sense of him being a powerhouse. He isn’t Deadpool, manic murder machine; he’s a relentless romantic bank manager with no combat training unaware he’s been stabbed, shot, etc.
In addition, Novocaine is never shy about going for the grotesque to make audiences flinch. More than once I shouted out, “Oh damn!” While that may make the squeamish hesitant, the film never hits any nauseating extremes. Novocaine is often closer to wincing cringes than gagging gore. Furthermore, it hardly seems gratuitous as each injury Nathan endures is either oddly comical or says something about how far he’s willing to go to save Sherry.
Again, Novocaine sells such motivations early on. There’s a charm and relatability established from the beginning that runs through the rest of this rousing actioner. Audiences will easily applaud Nathan’s evolution to unflinching, albeit broken badass. They’ll cry out as they cringe at the gruesome ways he wrecks himself, and they’ll cheer when he throws caution to the wind in the name of love.
Novocaine succeeds by leaning into its absurdity. The over-the-top plot is largely sold by Jack Quaid, whose comedic timing turns simple exchanges into charming chuckles. There’s something especially comical about instances when he tries to defuse violent moments while being viciously demolished. Keep in mind, Nathan is initially not indifferent to his injuries and that hesitancy adds to the impact of what he endures.
Meanwhile, Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: No Way Home) is equally able to get laughs as Nathan’s only friend Roscoe. They’re two people dragged into a larger world by doing the right thing, and Batalon’s reluctance is not only understandable, but it also lends Novocaine another relatable character.
Total honesty, I predicted a few twists early on. It didn’t matter for one moment. Novocaine knows the kind of movie it is and doesn’t try to pretend otherwise. Its quality comes from embracing action formulas to chart a tight course through horrific yet darkly comedic violence, a route intensified by fleshing out characters with relatable emotional cores early on. It’s not so much about the plot points but how the movie gets to each one that’s captivating. I left this movie ready to see it again immediately.
Ray Nicholson (Smile 2) certainly helps by being a delightfully wicked antagonist. This is the kind of villain audiences easily despise yet understand he’s dangerous. The countdown to his comeuppance is then a satisfying aspect of this offbeat adventure. In addition, it’s nice to see villainy that isn’t manic in its depiction. Though his character certainly delights in cruelty, flashing the occasional wicked grin, Nicholson never becomes a sinister snickering clown.
The directing duo of Dan Berk and Rob Olsen bring to life an imaginative script by Lars Jacobson. When the cast isn’t selling the comedic dialogue, a wonderful blend of cinematic style keeps Novocaine visually compelling. Even at its most chaotic, the carnage is always comprehensible. And the filmmakers know when to slow the pace to keep the audience from getting numb. This also helps when certain visual gags occur, especially those that hit unexpectedly. Finally, there’s a pleasing use of music as the soundtrack frequently emphasizes the feeling of some scenes.
Novocaine is an absolute blast benefiting from a solid cast as well as an unusual premise. Leaning into that results in a joy ride that’s gross without being gory and charming without feeling sappy. Amazing combat sequences hit violent extremes which comedy keeps from seeming too serious. Novocaine is an absurd action gem for anyone in need of a laugh and engaging escapism.
