Novocaine (2025)
What happens when you take a guy who literally can’t feel pain and throw him into the middle of a high-stakes, slightly ridiculous, action-packed mess? You get Novocaine — part action movie, part comedy, and part chaotic emotional rollercoaster that somehow manages to be both fun and weirdly touching at the same time.
Jack Quaid stars as Nate Caine, a mild-mannered assistant bank manager who has CIPA, a rare condition that makes him physically immune to pain. Sounds like a blessing at first — stub your toe and feel nothing? Yes, please. But Nate’s life is actually super careful and painfully routine (pun intended). Everything changes when his colleague and crush, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), is kidnapped during a violent bank heist. Suddenly, this guy who’s spent his life avoiding danger is forced to jump into the deep end — chasing criminals, getting beaten to a pulp, and learning that not feeling pain doesn’t mean you can’t still get hurt.
The story doesn’t try to be overly complex — it’s a rescue mission with a twist, but what makes Novocaine work is how it leans into Nate’s awkwardness. He’s not a trained fighter or some kind of secret badass. He’s just a regular dude in way over his head, and that makes his journey a lot more engaging. You’re not watching him win every fight; you’re watching him survive by sheer grit, clumsiness, and occasionally, dumb luck.
Jack Quaid is kind of perfect in this role. He brings this mix of nervous energy and quiet determination that makes Nate super easy to root for. You can see the panic behind his eyes half the time, but he keeps pushing forward anyway. Amber Midthunder gives Sherry a bit of mystery — she’s not just the pretty love interest, and the more you find out about her, the more you realise she’s got her own thing going on. Ray Nicholson as the main villain, Simon, brings just the right amount of unhinged menace without going full cartoon bad guy. And Jacob Batalon steals scenes as Roscoe, Nate’s online gaming buddy who somehow ends up helping him navigate the real-life chaos.
The film’s got a nice mix of tones — it’s fast-paced and a bit wild, but it also has surprisingly grounded moments. Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen juggle the action and comedy really well. You can tell they’ve got a background in darker genres because even though there are laughs, there’s always a bit of danger lurking just under the surface.
Visually, it’s sharp. The San Diego backdrop is sunny and clean — kind of ironic, considering how messy things get. The action scenes aren’t overdone, which is refreshing. You can actually follow what’s going on, and the stunt work doesn’t feel like it’s trying to show off. There are also some nice visual details — reflections, mirrors, and shifting colour tones — that give the story a bit of extra flavour. At the beginning, Nate’s world is all washed-out blues and greys, kind of lifeless. But as the stakes rise, the colours get bolder — reds, oranges, neon signs glowing in the background — as if the world’s waking up with him.
The editing’s tight, for the most part. There are a few moments that drag, especially in the middle, but overall the film keeps moving. The dialogue is snappy and natural — nothing feels too scripted. You get the sense these characters could exist in real life, just slightly exaggerated.
The soundtrack is a fun mix too. There’s a moment with R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” that lands perfectly — both funny and a little sad. The original score does its job without being intrusive, which is exactly what you want in a movie like this.
Novocaine isn’t trying to change cinema forever, but it is trying to have a good time, and for the most part, it pulls it off. Think Kick-Ass meets Pineapple Express, but with less polish and more heart. It’s scrappy, it’s quirky, and it’s got something to say about pain — not just the kind you feel in your body, but the kind that hits you in the gut when things fall apart.
Is it flawless? No. The plot can be predictable, and some of the big twists feel like they came straight from the “how to write a thriller” handbook. But you forgive it because the characters are likeable, the action’s fun, and the film doesn’t take itself too seriously.
If you’re up for a movie that’s a bit different, with a hero who’s more likely to trip over his own feet than punch his way out of a fight — give Novocaine a go. It’s a solid Friday night watch, especially if you like your action flicks with a little awkward charm and a lot of bruises. Not a masterpiece, but it gets under your skin in all the right ways.