This article contains major spoilers.

Heist films are an action staple for lovers of the genre. Novocaine promises (and delivers) an abundance of thrills and (painless) spills with a unique high concept spin on the action genre. It is penned by Lars Jacobson who produced Fifth Night on Peacock and several podcasts including Wheel Woman and Fodor’s Guide To Espionage. He’s recently had his debut graphic novel The Horror published by Dark Horse Entertainment.

Novocaine opens with geeky (and purposely named) bank nerd Nathan “Nate” Caine (Jack Quaid) who is feeling particularly lonely and vulnerable during the Christmas festive season. All this changes when he forges a connection with clumsy coworker Sherry (Amber Midthunder) who accidentally spills hot coffee on his hand. Nate is a cauldron of anxiety, neurosis, and panic. He’s lived a sheltered life and isn’t sure he’s worthy of love and friendship. Like many unlikely heroes, his fate changes.

Things might be looking up for Nate and Sherry until their budding romance is crashed by an armed robbery and Sherry is taken hostage. It’s Nate to the rescue and Novocaine slams into pulpy overdrive to offer heart-pumping “Nate-fu” violence where he’s chased, thrown, bashed, burned, and stabbed.

It’s Nate’s unique genetic disorder of being unable to feel pain that separates Novocaine’s high concept from the pack. He can’t feel if he’s being burned or frozen and he can’t eat solid food because he might bite his tongue off without realizing. He also realizes that most sufferers of his disorders don’t survive past childhood, so he realizes he’s on borrowed time at age thirty. This is exploited in the ultra-violent storytelling to full effect. Nate dusts himself off and keeps searching for Sherry.

Sherry (Amber Midthunder) and Nate (Jack Quaid) Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Nate’s familiar character falls into screenwriter Lars Jacobson’s wheelhouse of turning an everyman’s perceived disability into superpower. Jacobson always reminds himself that this is a love story at its core. It’s not so much about saving a damsel in distress, but more about “the crazy things we do for love,” he asserts.

Sherry has her own sad backstory too. She was bounced around between foster families and needs an emotional foundation to build her life on. Nate might just be it. She rejects victimhood and views each setback as a stepping stone toward happiness. She’s not necessarily looking for love, but Nate does have many admirable qualities.

Film References

With a plethora of heist films to reference, Jacobson turned to Dog Day Afternoon and Killing Zoe as his primary influences to stage a bank robbery. Novocaine also has shades of Die Hard, beyond it being a Christmas movie. “I equated it to Bruce Willis’ t-shirt. It starts white and crisp, and by the end, he’s bare-chested and bloody,” says Jacobson. There are even smatterings of John Wick, Lethal Weapon, and Hard Boiled tossed in for good measure.

Novocaine is cognizant of elevating, contorting and adding the over-familiar heist genre. It does so by finding the right balance of action, heart, and humor. The stomach-churning, eye-popping mix of violence and humor added to the signature style of the film. It could get away with more gore since the audience knows that Nate would simply smile after another beating and carry on.

Once this dynamic is established, it’s relentless action until the end of the film.

“Novocaine is about two very broken characters who come from different sides of the spectrum of pain. Nate can’t feel pain and feels disconnected from humanity because of it. Sherry uses pain as a way to feel connected to life and to remind herself that she’s alive. When these two characters meet, they have instant chemistry, but then they’re torn apart until they ultimately sacrifice for one another. That’s what this story is about. Nate’s not just saving Sherry. Sherry is saving Nate,” notes Jacobson.

Nate isn’t a regular superhero either. He doesn’t have specialized training nor is he physically capable of overpowering the robbers. Instead, he must outsmart them. “Nate is not always winning these fights; he’s surviving them, but he’s coming out ahead and overcoming insurmountable odds by applying his smarts and ingenuity,” continues Jacobson.

Nate Caine first needs to break out of the safe insular bubble he has created for himself and face the world head on. In some regards, finding Sherry becomes a secondary pursuit as he steps into his own power.

Then there’s Roscoe (Jacob Batalon), Nate’s online (and only) friend who bond through video games. He teaches Nate about friendship when they finally meet in person. He serves as ample comic relief, trusted sidekick, and true friend.

Simon (Ray Nicholson) Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

The Big Twist

Novocaine’s trajectory pivots dramatically at the mid-point when we find out that Sherry isn’t the innocent kidnap victim she portrayed. Sherry, along with brothers, mastermind Simon (Ray Nicholson), Andre (Conrad Kemp) and Ben (Evan Hengst) orchestrated the heist. This is further complicated when Sherry’s feelings toward Nate have evolved from pawn to partner.

Simon is the perfect antithesis to Nate. He can’t feel emotional pain while Nate can’t feel physical pain. He truly captures the notion that villains are just as important in crime movies. He has sociopathic tendencies and is a master manipulator.

Sherry is caught in the middle and must decide between one or the other – a point Simon constantly mocks her about. How could she possibly fall for Nate?