For the second week running, international audiences are captivated by the trials and tribulations of Nathan Kane (Jack Quaid), an ordinary bank employee with an extremely rare genetic condition, which the protagonist turns into a weapon of vengeance. Let’s delve into what makes “Novocaine,” directed by the duo Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, who have long flirted with genre chimeras, so appealing to viewers and critics alike.
Jack Quaid as Nathan in a still from “Novocaine”
Nathan Kane is a solitary man in his prime: he works as a deputy manager at a credit institution, drinks healthy green smoothies in the morning, his only friend is his online gaming partner Roscoe (Jacob Batalon), and he covers all sharp edges at home and at work with tennis balls. The reason is that Nathan has type IV sensory and autonomic neuropathy, a rare disorder of the nervous system in which a person, among other unpleasant consequences, does not feel pain. The guy doesn’t eat solid food (there’s a risk of biting off his tongue), avoids sharp and piercing objects, and sets a timer every three hours so as not to miss a trip to the toilet.
A Painless Existence
From childhood, Nathan was torn between the greenhouse conditions created by his parents and school cruelty. As soon as the malicious classmates learned about the boy’s peculiarities, along with the nickname “Novocaine,” he received a daily beating. It is quite logical that in his third decade, Kane became an introvert with gaps in socialization, an extensive library, a passion for video games, and a fantasy-style tattoo that he personally applied to almost his entire body. When fate brings Nathan together with the bank teller Sherry (Amber Midthunder), and passion ignites between the colleagues, the protagonist is transformed. But literally the day after the magical evening, a gang of villains robs the bank, and along with the money, they take the unfortunate Sherry hostage. Nathan decides to personally find his beloved and turns his ailment into a tool of heroism.
Raymond Nicholson as Simon Greenleaf in a still from “Novocaine”
Body Horror Comedy
If body horror films dominated screens last year, then “Novocaine” opens the way for an unexpected genre phenomenon that can be called body horror comedy. Kane is not burdened with any knowledge of martial arts or the use of weapons, which is what heartless bandits take advantage of. But thanks to his genetic peculiarities, the protagonist does not pay attention to the monstrous injuries for ordinary mortals and invariably prevails. The camera savors all of Nathan’s injuries with the zeal of the Marquis de Sade: the creators of the film cripple their ward a lot, for a long time, and inventively. Believe me, searching for a pistol in a working deep fryer is the most harmless thing that will happen to Kane.
For Jack Quaid, the role of Nathan in Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s film is almost the first truly leading role, and the actor, known as the neurotic Hughie from the series “The Boys” or the resentful Josh from the recent thriller “Companion,” is absolutely in his place in “Novocaine.” The restrained manner of acting and the grimaces of an embarrassed teenager suit his character, as if the role was originally written for Quaid. “Novocaine” generally brought together outstanding heirs of acting dynasties: the main antagonist here is the once again raving Raymond Nicholson, who also feels very comfortable in the role of a criminal with a completely absent morality and a hangman’s sense of humor.
Jack Quaid as Nathan in a still from “Novocaine”
A Familiar Tale with a Twist
As for the plot, the story written by Lars Jacobson may seem banal to some, and to others it may seem to pay homage to the times when action films still looked fresh. But, no matter how you look at it, the script in “Novocaine” is secondary and exists only as a glue that connects the action scenes. Those, in turn, are no match for the rapid shootouts from “John Wick” or the full contact of “The Raids.” However, Berk and Olsen clearly did not plan to compete with the best action masters. The directors literally crossed slapstick with body horror - the audience is saved from nausea by Quaid’s stone face and another comment in the spirit of “Eight nails are enough for me.”
“Novocaine” is a real festival of pain for the sake of love, an attraction for hardened and seen-it-all fans of Mr. Bean. Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s action film has neither complex morality nor an exquisite structure, but it is full of some boyish energy and amazing old-school optimism. And, most importantly, it will definitely make Jack Quaid a new action hero - a modest guy without signs of machismo and a square jaw, but with a big heart and the nobility of a real knight. Even if quite fragile.