Written by Nikhita Kumar
Action movies are a staple of Hollywood. Glorious visuals, high-speed car chases, a crazy final fight — we have seen them all. While audiences (rightfully) love action films, these movies can absolutely be tropey and formulaic. Yet new, gory action release Novocaine reminds us that even the same old formula can be repackaged into something fresh and entertaining.
Novocaine centers around Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), a very cautious assistant manager who has CIPA (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis): a condition that prevents him from feeling physical pain. Despite the unique struggles that come with his condition, Nathan tries his best to live normally—although his intense avoidance of danger isolates him from others. Nathan falls in love with sharp new hire Sherry Margrave (Amber Midthunder), and all seems to be going well. His newfound happiness abruptly ends, though, when bank robbers take Sherry hostage. Desperate to get her back, Nathan forgoes his quiet life and takes matters into his own hands.
Novocaine’s premise—a man who can’t feel pain effortlessly dealing with painful punches from goons—is creative, and the film definitely executes the concept to its fullest potential. Many of the film’s action scenes creatively take advantage of the main hero’s condition. In one scene (also shown in the trailer), Nathan faces off against a man with a clear physical advantage in the fight. None of Nathan’s punches have any effect, and even with Nathan’s inability to feel the physical repercussions of the hits, he’s still getting knocked around. After a hit that leads to a mirror shattering, Nathan has the idea to dig his fists into the glass shards until they stick to his hands, then attack his opponent. It’s painful to watch, and is a fairly unconventional move from an action hero for obvious reasons. Ridiculous as it is, it works. The uniqueness of Novocaine’s action sequences leave audiences cringing from the pain, yet not quite able to tear their eyes away.
The film balances the gory action sequences with plenty of comedy. There are plenty of snappy witticisms to keep viewers entertained. Nathan’s fellow gaming friend, Roscoe Dixon (Jacob Batalon), especially brings a lot of laughs in his role. Most of the gags center around Nathan’s indifference to his physical injuries. While these gags work incredibly well—a torture interrogation scene in the film is especially wild—by the second half of the film, the humor attached to these moments may get a little stale. Regardless, Novocaine is generally hysterical and will absolutely entertain audiences.
The film’s storyline is fairly simple and straightforward. It features every hallmark of an action film that I mentioned previously—the high-speed car chase, insane visuals, and a final, high-stakes fight. There’s even a kidnapped love interest that motivates the main hero into action. While the film hits most basic action plot points, it’s fast-paced and engaging regardless. There is also a nice spin on the “kidnapped girlfriend” trope, as Sherry’s character is given a lot more depth than most characters that occupy her role. It is refreshing to see a love interest in an action movie have this much impact on the story. While Novocaine isn’t exactly groundbreaking in most ways, the small liberties it takes go a long way in crafting a film that won’t leave audiences bored.
The portrayal of Nathan’s CIPA is humorous at times, but not at all glorified. The film makes the point to show that while Nathan is indifferent to his various major wounds, he is absolutely not invulnerable. He takes shots of epinephrine at various points to ensure that his body doesn’t pass out due to his severe injuries. The film points out the challenges that come with having CIPA—it begins with panning shots of Nathan’s home, where every sharp edge is covered to ensure that Nathan doesn’t unknowingly hurt himself. Nathan even avoids eating solid foods due to the fear that he will bite his tongue off. Though Nathan has to live a little differently thanks to his condition, it’s not portrayed as something strange—just an aspect of his life that adds some challenges to daily living. The filmmakers clearly put research and care into their portrayal of this character.
All in all, Novocaine is definitely worth the watch in theaters. It’s fresh, bloody entertainment filled with plenty of laughs—perfect for audiences looking for something to spice up their evening. It’s clear that Novocaine was made by people who love action thrillers, and this love makes for an incredible viewing experience. It’s a reminder to audiences of how fun and thrilling action movies can be.
