Novocaine
Novocaine
When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, a man incapable of feeling physical pain turns his rare condition into an unexpected advantage in the fight to rescue her.
Nishant Arora reviewedJune 17, 2025
*Novocaine* is a shot of pure, unadulterated adrenaline, turning its high-concept premise into a wildly entertaining and gleefully gory ride. It’s a film that knows exactly what it is and leans into its absurdity with bone-crunching, laugh-out-loud results.
The Good: Jack Quaid is perfectly cast as the affable lead who can’t feel pain, and his charming, wide-eyed panic grounds the film’s increasingly chaotic action. The action sequences are brutally inventive, using the central gimmick to create some truly memorable and wince-inducing set pieces. The film’s energetic pacing and unapologetic embrace of slapstick gore make for a non-stop, fun-filled experience.
The Bad: The central plot is admittedly thin, serving mostly as a vehicle to get from one outrageous fight to the next. The romantic subplot that kicks off the adventure feels underdeveloped and lacks a genuine spark, making the hero’s motivation feel a bit flimsy. Furthermore, while the central gimmick is fun, it can feel repetitive by the final act, and the film occasionally overstays its welcome.
A perfect popcorn flick, *Novocaine* delivers a frantic and hilarious spectacle that’s painless to watch, even if it’s ultimately forgettable.