Novocaine is rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for strong bloody violence, grisly images, and language throughout.
Violence & Gore: It has several scenes of gory shootings, stabs, and physical combat. The characters are often shot or beaten up, and the camera is not discreet about blood and different injuries.
Due to the fact that the main character is shown to be unable to feel pain, this aspect of the story is depicted in very violent ways. For instance, there is a scene where Nathan puts his hand in the fryer to grab a gun and another scene where he takes many blows and is almost incapacitated but pulls himself up to continue fighting.
These scenes are rather provocative and could be considered offensive for some audience members.
The film is filled with suspenseful parts where characters are threatened with a gun, threatened and even beaten up. The major characters are depicted as villains, and this makes the impact of the events rather intense.
Be prepared to see a lot of killing, the use of machine guns and other projectile instruments, and there are scenes depicting characters being shot, beaten or even eaten by zombies. Amateur as it is, it spares no bruises and scars when portraying the effects of violence in the society.
Language: There are many uses of strong language where characters use the F-word, S-word, and any other kinds of swearing or cursing. Pervasive is the language, which reflects the high-stress situations of the characters in the dialogue.
It is also common for characters to use profanity in order to establish dominance or simply as an insult during a fight.
Sexual Content:
Nathan and Sherry are portrayed as lovers and they mostly engage in flirtation, kisses, and passionate dialogue. Though their interactions are portrayed as having a sweet and innocent undertone, there is some physical contact.
There are three scenes which depict body nudity; brief scenes of exposure; Nathan has tattoos all over his body. It is not completely erotic but can be rather provocative, which many viewers may find objectionable.
There are some scenes where characters talk about intimacy and some scenes in their relationships but jokes or comments are not highly explicit.
Drug and Alcohol Use: Characters consume alcohol as a part of their daily life and in company with friends or during a date.
Although there are occasional mentions of drug names, no scenes that portray the use of drugs are shown.
Novocaine Movie Review
Ever wondered what it would be like to feel no pain—or how far you’d go to save someone you love? That’s the wild premise of Novocaine, a movie that mixes romance, action, and a whole lot of body horror into one intense, roller-coaster ride. It’s the kind of film that keeps you glued to the screen, even as you occasionally peek through your fingers during the gory bits.
The film revolves around Nathan Caine, a man with a rare genetic quirk: he is unable to feel pain, played by the naturally charming Jack Quaid. Nathan lives in a sterile environment; his home is padded, his movements are choreographed, and he even has a bell for the purpose of signaling him to go to the bathroom. However, things take a turn when he befriends Sherry (Amber Midthunder), an assertive and inquisitive co-worker. This newly found taste of love excites Nathan until a gang of comical yet dangerous bank robbers interrupt their budding love, taking Sherry as their hostage.
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The ensuing scenes are a whirl of action-filled rescue work just as Nathan, due to his condition, does not shy away from challenges. I know that you are getting vibes of John Wick and The Incredibles here, but trust me when I say that this is heading there while still having a much more sinister feel to it. Nathan is no action hero, he is too clumsy for that and some of his heroic attempts are so embarrassing that you wonder why he is even trying, for instance he decides to steal a gun by putting his hand in the hot deep fryer. It’s both terrifying and often absurd, which is kind of the point because the movie is as much an action movie, a comedy, and a movie that might make you cringe.
There is definitely some stuff about Novocaine that is tough to categorize, and that’s why so many people find it so fascinating. It’s a little bit romance, a little bit superhero origin story, and a hell of a lot of violence. Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen team up, and as guys who love good ol’ dark and twisted stories they do put their passion into this film especially in the first half. It’s got a good pace, the danger is tangible, and there isus, sweet heart between Quaid and Midthunder. You do genuinely like Nathan and Sherry so the craziness happening around them add to the mayhem.
With this in mind, Novocaine has its issues that are worth pointing out as well. It attempts to deal with the themes of love, physical transformation and monstrosity, B-movie action, and some social critique, and not all of them succeed. The silliness of the villains is fun, but the characters are not well fleshed out and the last part of the movie is a little too much focused on the resolution. However, there are some questions about Nathan’s condition and its mechanisms that remain unanswered which might cause some confusion.
Where the movie truly excels is in its main role. Jack Quaid, yes the guy from The Boys and Scream is quite surprisingly riveting as Nathan. Crispin Gonzalez imbues his character with a likability factor that you could find yourself repeatedly rooting for him even as he muddle through fight scenes and thoroughly brutal scenes. Amber Midthunder performs well in her role as Sherry and has those intimidating actions that are contrasted by moments of tenderness; they have outstanding chemistry.
From a visual standpoint, Novocaine is chock full of gritty, practical soundness that fans of horror films should certainly appreciate. The gore component is spectacular and violent but does not appear to be there for the mere shock value. The fights are fast and furious and there are tricks and even absurdities elements here, and one gets the feeling that the filmmakers are not constrained by the norms of a regular action film to make this as unpredictable as well as surprisingly entertaining as this particular plotline is.
If you fancy yourself a fan of action-packed movies with over the top romance and a slight touch of horror, Novocaine could prove to be quite interesting. It’s not a masterpiece, but it has what it takes – suspense, innovation and strong acting to make you remain glued to your seat. Note to self, never watch it while having a meal, just don’t!!!
Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Jacob Batalon, and Ray Nicholson.
Release Date: March 14, 2025