‘Novocaine’ Review: Body Horror-Action Hybrid Is Good, Nasty Fun
Action films follow a rather predictable formula where an extraordinary person (usually a man) goes on a journey fueled by some sort of revenge and will do whatever it takes to get their vengeance, whether it’s in the name of a loved one, a friend, or even a dog. Sure there are amazing variations on that formula, but most big action films are, ironically, a bit boring. Enter Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s new film Novocaine, the anti-action action movie featuring an awkwardly charming Jack Quaid and confidently cool Amber Midthunder. With a unique central premise and a hero with no idea how to fight, Berk and Olsen craft a nasty good time full of deep-fried hands, broken bones, and a concussion or two. Basically, Novocaine is an absolutely disgusting blast.
Quaid plays assistant bank manager Nathan Caine, a man who lives with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), a rare genetic condition that does actually exist. Essentially, he can’t feel pain or temperature difference. This has led to a rather sheltered existence where he only drinks well-blended smoothies so he doesn’t accidentally chew off his tongue, covers all corners and points with tennis balls so he doesn’t accidentally rip himself open, and sets a timer for every three hours so his bladder doesn’t explode. He lives a life of fear. Until he meets Sherry (Midthunder).
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Sherry is the new girl at work who, after accidentally spilling hot coffee on an oblivious Nate, takes him on a diner date where Nate finally opens up about his condition. He can be himself around her and take down his walls. So, when she’s taken hostage during a bank robbery, he throws it all on the line to save her life from Santa-clad villains. Yes, Novocaine is also a Christmas movie.
But, Nate is no action. He can’t throw a punch and he has no idea how to shoot a gun. But he does have an inability to feel pain and boy, does he weaponize it in increasingly disgusting ways. This is body horror unlike anything you’ve ever seen, especially in an action film. Nate’s body is beaten, battered, shot, stabbed, anything you can think of. And the camera doesn’t cut away either. In fact, it gets in close to ensure we see every bit of glass entering his flesh or how hard his head hits the pavement. While Novocaine certainly isn’t a horror film per se, Berk and Olsen use their genre backgrounds to bring the blood, guts, and gore to their unique action comedy.
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If you need a comparison, Novocaine is a hilarious mix of Bubble Boy and Die Hard as a sheltered nerd shreds soft tissue like it’s nothing to save the love of his life. And Quaid embodies that nerd with an awkward charisma not unlike his early days in The Boys. But here, Quaid really shows off his star power as he takes hit after hit and never lets his sense of humor or Nate’s charm wear off. Quaid might not look like an action hero but that’s precisely the point.
Opposite Quaid is a stellar Midthunder who, post-Prey, proves her ability to play a modern lead actor. Yes, she can kick ass, but she can also command the screen with confidence not rooted in male attention. If there was any doubt before, Novocaine proves her star power. Now let’s hope the studios also realize this and keep her busy for decades to come. Completing the trio is Ray Nicholson as the film’s lead villain who giggles and flashes toothy grins like life is one big game. Nicholson is having a banner 2025 so far between this and the upcoming Borderline and he too is proving himself a rapidly rising star.
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I’d be remiss not to mention Jacob Batalon’s Roscoe, Nate’s only friend and the stereotypical funny best friend sidekick. Unfortunately, he feels a bit shoehorned into the film’s third act, playing a crucial but tiny role that doesn’t quite fit into the larger story.
While there have been quite a few comparisons between Novocaine and a superhero origin story, Berk and Olsen treat Nate’s genetic condition as more than just a convenient quirk. They really commit to depicting it as a disability, taking it seriously while also showing how easily it can be to hide yourself from the world when you are disabled (even if it’s an invisible disability). It does ultimately become a convenient quirk, but Berk and Olsen, as well as Lars Jacobson’s script, do ground Nate in the condition to add more nuance to a genre not often known for such a thing.
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This is Berk and Olsen’s third feature and is the culmination of their previous work within the indie horror space. While their films Villains and Significant Other meld genres, they’re grounded in the world of horror. Now, they’ve proved themselves able to handle bigger budgets and a bigger scale while also delivering a unique and deeply entertaining take on a well-worn (and often dry) genre. Things are only looking up for the directing duo.
Yes, the story is ridiculous if you think about it a little too hard. But isn’t that the case for any great action movie, especially those of the 1990s and 2000s? Berk and Olsen stick the landing here when it comes to both paying homage to the action films of the past and crafting their own unique hero capable of disgusting things. Novocaine is the best action film of 2025, and I’m confident in that statement, even if it’s only March.
Novocaine comes exclusively to theaters on March 14, 2025.
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Novocaine (2025)
Summary
Novocaine is the best action film of 2025.
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