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Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have an inability to feel pain? Not in a super-human way, but due to a DNA abnormality. Meaning no toothache, not feeling the horrible sensation of a bone breaking, no period cramps (yay!) and not screaming crude obscenities when stubbing your toe or burning your fingers on a molten hot baking tray. Well, this is exactly what Nathan Caine doesn’t have to worry about in Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s new film ‘Novocaine’, a far-fetched, action packed, surprising light-hearted yet graphic tale of a shy millennial who has the disorder; Congenial Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA).
Caine, played by ‘The Boys’ star Jack Quaid, is a placid and rather lonely assistant bank manager, who has felt socially incongruous due to his disability resulting bullying (when his peers found out about his condition) and giving him the nickname “Novocaine.” The protagonist has no friends except one online gamer friend, Roscoe, played by Spiderman’s Jacob Batalon, and the colleague he has pined over for months: Sherry, played by Amber Midthunder.
Seeing Caine’s long, enamoured stares towards Sherry really is a heart throbber and firmly cemented a soft spot in my heart for the character. He finally gets the chance to go on a date with Sherry where his affection for Sherry grows, after shetricks an old school bully of his into shotting hot sauce. Her understanding of his rare condition is immensely moving for Caine, when they go back to his apartment, sees her healed self-harm scars she says, “Everyone has secrets Nate, we’re just looking for someone to share them with.” He finally feels accepted and able to combat his mental pain of loneliness and isolation. The next day, their bank is robbed by thugs in Santa suits. Sherry is taken as a hostage. It is now Nates mission to track them down to save the only person he’s shared a connection with. So, after stealing cars, running from the law and having multiple bloody wounds, does he find her? Does he survive if he can’t realise he’s been hurt or the extent of his injuries?
Quaid’s performance of the sweet, naive introvert allows you to root for him in his bloody but romantic pursuits, although the film could have included more of a build-up of chemistry between the two to really sell Caine’s white-knuckled passion to save Sherry. The disappointment for not including The Eels ‘Novocaine for the soul’ was profound and very much a missed opportunity for the directors (it’s a great song and would have worked impeccably in a gnarly slow-mo scene).
If you enjoy films like Crank with Jason Statham; funny, gritty and a little over the top, but just overall good fun, then, Novocaine should certainly be on your watchlist. Get some nachos, cheese sauce and jalapenos (if you can handle the heat) and watch Nathan Caine feel no pain.
