The Universal Studios Classic Monsters have helped set the stage for modern horror with their unique takes on classic tales of shock and terror. One of the most iconic examples of this was Frankenstein, which brought Mary Shelley's revered novel to life. However, another equally iconic take had its own famous film version with 1931's Dracula. The film took some of the best beats from the novel and offered a story that reinvented the character into a version that's still quoted today. With Bela Lugosi's iconic accent and the way he carried himself, he set a new standard. But many fail to realize that actor Dwight Frye created an iteration just as remembered alongside Dracula: Renfield.

In the original film, Renfield was Dracula's seemingly psychotic pawn that served the dark lord in hopes that he would have a life similar to his as a vampire. But what he was granted instead was life as an enslaved person that fed on insects, spiders and even rats. However, as the trailer for Renfield has shown, Dracula's pawn gains his own skills upon eating these creatures, including enhanced strength and extended life. But even though the movie is more comedic than horrific, it shows the perfect evolution of this toxic odd couple.

RELATED: Nic Cage's Dracula Terrorizes Nicholas Hoult in Renfield's First Trailer

Time Has Turned Dracula Into a Parasite

In the early years of their partnership, Renfield and Dracula operated as a symbiotic pairing. Dracula would use Renfield to gain access to places and take the blood of his victims before disappearing into the night. Essentially, Renfield allowed Dracula to reach places he couldn't. In return, Dracula promised Renfield his powers, and as the upcoming film has shown, he delivered on that deal without turning him into a full-fledged vampire. That said, this relationship would erode from symbiotic into something more unhealthy.

At the time of Renfield, Dracula's "loyal" assistant has found that the perks he's gained aren't worth the life of servitude he's endured for decades. He may have powers from the bugs he eats, but ultimately, it's a far cry from the normal life he's longed for. To make matters worse, Dracula has remained as demanding as ever and won't give Renfield a moment's rest. As a result, Dracula has become Renfield's parasite that takes and takes but gives little in return.

RELATED: Bela Lugosi Wasn't Universal's Only Classic Dracula

Comedy Perfectly Captures Dracula and Renfield's Altered Dynamic

Nicholas Hoult grimaces in Renfield

Dracula has always been closely associated with horror and the terror of a man who could kill with a look, literally and figuratively. That said, Renfield leaning into comedy and focusing on his closest confidant may seem like a strange departure, but it's the best way to show the next stage of this twisted relationship. Neither Renfield nor Dracula act comedically in the film and are potentially the most serious characters in the movie. But the humor comes in Renfield's exhaustion from being a constant tool for his master and Dracula being completely oblivious.

In the end, this twisted dynamic is perfect fodder for laughs, as anything else would be downright tragic and likely filled with peril, as anyone that got close to Renfield would be in danger. But by showing the humor in these moments, Renfield's audience can laugh as they slowly realize how toxic Dracula is toward Renfield and why it's so important for him to finally break away. Comedy may not be the first choice to tie to Dracula and Renfield, but it's the most inspired one to showcase how these characters have changed over the decades.

To see this new take on Dracula's pawn, Renfield flies into theaters on April 14, 2023.