Novocaine

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It is a shame that this movie's theatrical run didn't last as long as it should have, with just two weeks on the domestic box office Top 10. It's another fine example of a title that is a bit of original material that people seem to insist they're looking for but not giving a proper chance, further proving that audiences prefer their "comfort zone" titles. When people ask me to prove there are good, primarily original ideas, I tell them they just need to know where to look. 'Novocaine,' here, is one such title.

This film delivers just a little bit of everything to the audience. It's funny, has a romantic touch, and is full of action. Even some gore hounds can leave satisfied with what the film gets away with. The way it all unfolds is very satisfying for a movie-goer like myself, especially when I'm able to empathize with the main character in so many ways as he goes through the film as an improbable hero, vigilante-style, in an attempt to rescue the most important thing that has happened in his otherwise dull life.

Our hero is Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), who becomes easily relatable to me as an awkward, shy, but friendly introvert. He lives his life with a condition known as Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA), a very real but scarce condition in which the subject is quite literally numb to pain, heat, etc. Before watching this, I had seen such a thing in the William Shatner-hosted show 'The Unexplained' about "Real-Life Superheroes." I remember thinking, "They should make an action movie about this." Well, ask, and you shall receive.

As an assistant manager in a trust credit union, Nathan eventually befriends his new co-worker, Sherry Margrave (Amber Midthunder). The pair go out to lunch and eventually to a bar, where, throughout their day out, Sherry opens his eyes to some of the wondrous things we take for granted, all because he's lived his life in fear. Being that numb means such things as he could "unknowingly chew off his tongue" if he eats anything and has to set the alarm for every three hours to make sure he can urinate. It's the perfect example of a superpower that is both a blessing and a curse.

The following day, which happens to be Christmas Eve, a gang of men dressed up as Santa enter the credit union to rob it, and they don't hold anything back. Nathan and Sherry end up in the middle of it all, and Sherry is eventually taken hostage by the team leader, Simon Greenly (Ray Nicholson). This is where Nathan decides to use his ability to his advantage and go after her. What follows is a lot of knock-down-drag-out fights that show enough to say this may not be for the squeamish at heart. But that's also part of what makes this film so brilliant.

While I love everything about the movie and its execution, what stands out for me is this concept that while we watch Nathan get severely injured time and time again, the whole time likely wincing at things we've seen in horror movies that come across as true torture, one can remember that whatever is happening to Nathan, he can't feel at all. That's also where a lot of the film's humour comes in. I won't say much about it, but an actual torture scene here happens to be one of the funniest moments in the film. That says a LOT since I've never liked a whole lot of torture in horror.

What more can I say? This was something that was right up my alley, and will most likely end up on my year-end Top 10 somewhere. I enjoyed the relatability of Nathan's character, the fact that the film doesn't hold anything back, and just how funny it is on top of all of the danger involved. But again, the most brilliant thing about the film is that it tests the audience's metal. I knew that he couldn't feel any of it, but some moments still had me wincing or making some kind of uncomfortable face. I had a great time with this!

5/5

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