Have you ever been excited to watch something, and halfway through, you’re like, wait, what even is this? That’s Novocaine. A film that could’ve delivered a sharp, quirky punch but ended up poking around with a blunt needle.
The Premise Sounds Cool! Until It Isn’t
A guy (Nathan Caine) with a rare condition where he can’t feel physical pain lives a super dull, shut-in life. Think: work, video games, sleep, repeat. Enter Sherry — a bright-eyed girl who joins his bank and shockingly makes him feel alive (yeah, that old romantic cliché again).
But then boom — a bank robbery. Sherry is “kidnapped” as bait, only for us to find out she’s in on it. Turns out the robbers are her brothers, and she’s been playing Nathan all along. Cue Nathan’s chaotic, logic-defying mission to “rescue” her. From stealing a cop car to killing a gang member to tattooing someone’s neck for intel — it’s just one senseless act after another. He’s not a hero. He’s a walking headache with nothing to lose.
Let’s Talk Logic (or the Lack of It)
The plot is held together by vibes, not logic. Emotional shifts are abrupt and unearned — like Nathan falling in love instantly, then going on a criminal rampage for that love. Sherry’s betrayal? Predictable. Her “depth”? Nonexistent. The ending? Meh. She goes to jail, he finally eats a damn pie. That’s how they wrap it.
Some Things Barely Worked
- The premise of pain immunity could’ve made for deep moments or dark humor — but the film barely scratches the surface.
- Roscoe, the offbeat side character, brings some real comic energy and steals every scene he’s in.
- Nathan’s blind loyalty was at least consistent, if tragically misguided.
But Most of It Felt… Hollow
- Blood? Everywhere. But emotional weight? Missing.
- The humor lands like a weak punch — you see the attempt but don’t feel the impact.
- Jack Quaid is stuck in his typecast loop, and Amber Midthunder deserved better writing. Also, what was that weird line near the end? Felt like a forced hot take that didn’t belong.
Sadism Over Substance
Let’s talk about the elephant in the theater — the blood. So. Much. Blood. The movie doesn’t just flirt with violence, it obsesses over it. There’s skin-piercing, tattooing necks for clues (yes, with an actual tattoo machine!), and scenes where Nathan stabs himself just to freak others out. It’s not thrilling. It’s just sadistic. At one point, you stop asking what’s next and start wondering, Why I still watching this?
If you enjoy excessive, graphic, borderline gory visuals with little emotional payoff, maybe this is your thing. But for the rest of us, it’s a sensory overload with no soul.
A Movie or A Migraine?
Novocaine isn’t a total train wreck— but it took the wrong track. It could’ve been a stylish, gritty indie thriller with heart, but instead, it’s just a stitched-together mess of violence, mediocrity, and missed potential.
In my opinion, it wasn’t a waste of time, but it wasn’t worth your time either. Like finding an old lollipop in your drawer — you could eat it, but you’ll wonder why you did.
Rating – 2.9 / 5 ⭐
Written by MANSI B. SINGH