Is ‘Novocaine’ Jason Statham’s ‘Crank’ Reimagined for a New Generation?

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The movie “Novocaine” seems to be a heartfelt tribute to classic action films, filled with intense moments where the protagonist, who cannot feel pain, endures some hard-hitting scenes throughout its duration. Certain sequences appear to be clear nods to other movies such as “Home Alone”, in which booby traps are employed, and “Upgrade”, whose fight scenes were seemingly inspired by the unique gimmick used in that movie.

However, a classic Jason Statham thriller felt particularly similar to Novocaine, and it even seems like the team behind Novocaine tried to reference Statham’s 2006 cult-classic, Crank. Jack Quaid’s Novocaine character might not be a hitman like Jason Statham in Crank, but he certainly proves he has the skillset for it.

‘Crank’ and ‘Novocaine’ Share Quite a Few Similarities

The film “Novocaine” seems as if it could be a modern reinterpretation of the movie “Crank“, released about 20 years ago. In “Novocaine“, Jack Quaid’s character, Nathan Caine, isn’t an assassin like Jason Statham’s character, Chev Chelios in “Crank“. But they both find themselves involved in intense physical altercations.

Crank and Novocaine have some of the wildest fight scenes in history. People in the films lose body parts, get severely burnt, and just get shot in some of the most brutal ways. Neither film should be watched by weak viewers. Both films also have an intense car chase because most great action films need one.

In the movie Crank, the protagonist, Chev Chelios, is faced with a unique predicament: he’s been poisoned by a drug that necessitates him to maintain his adrenaline levels at high levels to stay alive. He achieves this by engaging in intense actions and taking drugs throughout the film. On the other hand, in Novocaine, the character Nathan encounters a similar situation after their first big fight, as he mentions needing adrenaline boosts to endure all the blows he’s receiving. This detail resurfaces later in the movie when Nathan must administer an adrenaline shot to himself in a notable scene.

In both movies, the main characters are relentlessly pursuing something:

In “Crank”, Chev Chelios is determined to find those who poisoned him and obtain the antidote.

Meanwhile, in “Novocaine”, Nathan embarks on a killing spree as he attempts to rescue his first true love, who has been abducted by bank robbers.

Nathan Caine Is Also Similar To a Famous Anti-Hero: Deadpool

Crank isn’t the only film with similarities to Novocaine. Novocaine is also reminiscent of the Deadpool series of films. Mainly, the fact that Nathan Caine can’t feel pain is similar to Deadpool’s power to regenerate health. Both of these abilities allow the characters to take plenty of deadly hits while still fighting, making for some absurdly violent fight scenes. The main difference between their powers is that Nathan still has to be careful of his vital organs, whereas Deadpool can still feel pain.

The characters have similar personalities as well. They’re witty, especially during fight scenes, always making a quip or getting a laugh to ease an intense moment. There’s an incredibly funny scene in Novocaine where Nathan has to fake feeling a man’s torture method that would fit perfectly in any Deadpool film.

Deadpool and Nathan both take on the role of an anti-hero too. Anti-heroes usually do heroic acts, but their morals are not always as good as heroes’ morals. Deadpool acts like a hero as he faces off against villains, but his senseless killing makes him more of an anti-hero. Nathan is similar as he tries to rescue Sherry, but he does it illegally while avoiding cooperating with the police.

There are even some more direct references to Marvel characters that show the team behind Novocaine probably thought about the characters’ similarities. In his most recent movie, Deadpool teamed up with Wolverine, a hero with the same powers as him. In Novocaine, there’s a scene where Nathan smashes his hands with glass, then uses the glass like Wolverine’s claws. His friend Roscoe also warns him in the trailer, “You can still die. You’re not Wolverine.”

‘Novocaine’ Deals With Some Real Issues

The difference between Novocaine and films like Crank and Deadpool, is that Novocaine is based in fact. The only reason Nathan Caine can withstand so many hits is because he was born with a condition that doesn’t let him feel pain. The condition is called congenital insensitivity to pain, and it’s a real condition.

The film makes it clear that the average person with congenital insensitivity to pain wouldn’t go through these sorts of actions. He’s not referred to as a superhero, and he’s even told how dangerously he’s acting. The film also highlights the danger and unusual life that comes with the condition in everyday activities. Nathan has to take great care in his daily routines at the beginning of the film, so that he doesn’t hurt himself without realizing.

The film doesn’t try to trivialize the condition, either, as it plays a huge role in the story. Nathan’s backstory is that he wasn’t allowed to do much as a child because his parents were afraid he’d hurt himself. Until he thrusts himself into action to save Sherry, he mostly spends his free time playing video games with his friend, Roscoe. Sherry also only gets Nathan to fall in love with her by accepting him for who he is and helping him stand up to his bullies.

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2025-03-17 01:05