Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen.
Novocaine (2025) was released in the United States on March 14, 2025.
Distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Movie Review
Novocaine (2025) is a wild mix of action, dark humor, and over-the-top moments.
The movie follows Nate, played by Jack Quaid, a regular guy who can’t feel physical pain because of a rare condition.
When his co-worker and love interest Sherry gets taken during a violent robbery, Nate jumps into action.
Since he can’t feel pain, he pushes his body to the limit in some shocking and funny fight scenes.
The movie is fast, bloody, and full of creative action.
Jack Quaid delivers a believable and entertaining performance, and Amber Midthunder adds emotion to the story.
The plot isn’t very deep, and some characters don’t get much development, but the movie focuses more on fun, chaos, and surprises.
If you enjoy dark comedies, crazy stunts, and unusual action heroes, Novocaine is worth watching.
It’s loud, messy, and entertaining, perfect for viewers who want a wild ride instead of a serious story.
Ratings
• IMDb: 6.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
• Google Audience Score: 85% liked this movie.
Novocaine (2025) Actors
Jack Quaid as Nathan “Nate” Caine
DOB: April 24, 1992.
Bio: American actor who began in television comedies and indie films before transitioning into major genre projects.
The son of actors Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, he broke out with The Boys and has since built a reputation for blending humor, heart, and grounded intensity in both film and TV.
Role: Nate is an introverted assistant bank manager born with congenital insensitivity to pain.
When his crush is kidnapped during a robbery, his rare condition drives a darkly comic, increasingly violent rescue mission.
What to Expect: A mix of vulnerability and escalating toughness. Expect physical, sometimes grotesque action sequences anchored by earnest charm.
Interesting facts: Quaid has leaned into physical roles recently and did much of the film’s pratfall and stunt work to sell Nate’s gradual hardening.
Notable Works: The Boys, Scream VI, indie films and TV roles.
Amber Midthunder as Sherry Margrave
DOB: April 26, 1997.
Bio: Native American actress who gained early recognition in Legion and earned widespread acclaim for her lead performance in Prey.
She’s known for bringing physical credibility, emotional restraint, and grounded intensity to both action and dramatic roles.
Role: Sherry is Nate’s co-worker and romantic interest whose kidnapping launches the film’s events.
The character is more than a plot device, she’s resilient, sharp, and emotionally important to Nate’s journey, with agency in how the crisis unfolds.
What to Expect: Brave, modern action beats and a grounded emotional throughline.
Interesting facts: Her casting helped draw fans who appreciated her lead turn in Prey; the film leans on her chemistry with Quaid.
Notable Works: Prey, Roswell, New Mexico, Legion.
Ray Nicholson as Simon Greenly
DOB: February 20, 1992.
Bio: American actor and the son of Jack Nicholson.
He has been steadily building a career in independent cinema and genre projects, often portraying intense, unpredictable, or morally ambiguous characters.
Role: Simon is the ringleader of the Santa-suit robbery crew whose actions trigger the story’s violent spiral.
Nicholson plays him as a volatile, menacing antagonist whose unpredictability forces Nate into increasingly extreme decisions.
What to Expect: Menacing energy, unpredictable decisions and scenes that push the movie into ultraviolent territory.
Interesting facts: Nicholson’s recent work has leaned into horror and high-tension roles, which fits this film’s tone.
Notable Works: Recent genre films and supporting roles in indie features.
Jacob Batalon as Roscoe Dixon
DOB: October 9, 1996.
Bio: Jacob Batalon rose to international prominence as Ned Leeds in Marvel’s Spider-Man films.
Since then, he has diversified his career with roles in television and film that showcase his comedic timing, warmth, and emerging dramatic chops.
Role: Roscoe is Nate’s online gaming friend who unexpectedly gets pulled into the real-world mayhem.
Batalon plays him as loyal, funny, and grounding, offering moments of connection and sanity as Nate’s world grows more violent.
What to Expect: Quick humor, emotional sincerity and scenes that break tension with well-timed levity.
Interesting facts: Batalon’s presence broadens the film’s audience appeal and creates some of the film’s most watchable buddy moments.
Notable Works: Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tarot.
Betty Gabriel as Mincy Langston
DOB: January 6, 1981.
Bio: American actress known for her powerful dramatic performances in films like Get Out.
She has a reputation for portraying characters with emotional depth, resolve, and moral clarity.
Role: Mincy Langston is an S.D.P.D. officer who becomes involved in the fallout from the central conflict.
Gabriel plays her as pragmatic, composed, and grounded, a law enforcement presence who brings seriousness and accountability to the narrative.
What to Expect: Focused, no-nonsense scenes that cut through the film’s sillier notes with procedural grounding.
Interesting facts: Gabriel often plays characters who reveal ethical center points in thrillers.
Notable Works: Get Out, Clickbait, Upgrade.
Matt Walsh as Coltraine Duffy
DOB: October 13, 1964.
Bio: American actor, comedian, and writer, best known as a co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade and for his acclaimed comedic work in both television and film.
He has a long track record of balancing absurd humor with grounded character acting.
Role: Coltraine Duffy is an S.D.P.D. officer whose procedural approach contrasts sharply with the film’s increasingly surreal and violent events.
Walsh plays him with deadpan authority and subtle eccentricity, giving the character comic undertones without undermining his legitimacy.
What to Expect: Dry comedic beats, quirky police procedural energy and memorable one-liners.
Interesting facts: Walsh often balances satire and sincerity; here he anchors some of the film’s more absurd moments.
Notable Works: Veep, Upright Citizens Brigade projects, many supporting film roles.
Conrad Kemp as Andre
DOB: N/A
Bio: Conrad Kemp is a professional actor with growing visibility in film and television.
He frequently appears in supporting roles that bring realism and character depth to ensemble casts.
Role: Andre is a member of the robber crew whose actions help escalate the heist’s violence and unpredictability.
Kemp plays him with grounded menace and a sense of lived-in criminal pragmatism, adding dimension to the antagonist group.
What to Expect: Hard edges, practical menace and short but memorable scenes in the heist sequences.
Interesting facts: Kemp has been attached to other genre projects and often plays compact, effective supporting parts.
Notable Works: Supporting roles in recent indie features and TV.
Evan Hengst as Ben
DOB: December 1, 1995.
Bio: South African actor steadily building his career in international film and television.
He’s known for combining physical capability with a natural, grounded screen presence.
Role: Ben is a volatile member of the robber crew and one of the first criminals Nate encounters.
Hengst’s performance helps shift the story from dark comedy into real danger, setting the tone for the escalating violence.
What to Expect: Intense physical confrontations, unpredictable energy, and a credible sense of threat in early action scenes.
Interesting facts: Hengst has hands-on stunt training and is frequently cast in roles that require practical combat and physical realism.
Notable Works: The Kissing Booth (appearances), other international features.
Craig Jackson as Nigel
DOB: October 30, 1979.
Bio: South African actor and stage performer with international credits in television and film.
He’s known for portraying grounded, authoritative or rough-edged supporting characters.
Role: Nigel is the bank manager whose early encounter with the robbers sparks the film’s chain of violence.
Jackson’s role, though brief, establishes the story’s emotional stakes and sets Nate’s trajectory in motion.
What to Expect: Short but crucial scenes that raise the stakes and justify Nate’s descent.
Interesting facts: Jackson’s work in international TV gives him an ease with both drama and action in location shoots.
Notable Works: Black Sails, District 9, other South African and international productions.
Lou Beatty Jr. as Earl
DOB: August 2, 1945.
Bio: Lou Beatty Jr. is a seasoned American character actor with a long career in television and film.
He’s known for bringing warmth, authenticity and quiet authority to his supporting roles.
Role: Earl is an older resident in Nate’s neighborhood who adds texture to the film’s sense of community.
Beatty’s presence contributes heart and realism, grounding the story’s early scenes.
What to Expect: A warm, lived-in performance that readers will recognize even in brief screen time.
Interesting facts: Beatty has appeared in a wide range of network dramas and streaming series and is often cast for roles that require trustworthiness or neighborly wisdom.
Notable Works: TV guest roles and steady supporting turns across film and TV.
Garth Collins as Zeno
DOB: January 16, 1967.
Bio: South African actor and performer with extensive stage and screen experience.
In recent years, he has appeared more frequently in international productions filmed in South Africa and surrounding regions.
Role: Zeno is a local figure within the film’s supporting ensemble, contributing muscle, grit and a sense of lived-in realism to the setting.
His presence adds to the story’s grounded, on-the-ground authenticity.
What to Expect: A physical, grounded supporting role that helps sell the film’s local texture.
Interesting facts: Collins began his career in physical entertainment and is known for versatile character work.
Notable Works: Red Water, Berserker.
Tristan de Beer as A**hole
DOB: N/A.
Bio: South African actor with credits in both local and international screen productions, including the film Moffie.
He has increasingly appeared in features shot in the region’s expanding production landscape.
Role: He appears in a small supporting role that helps populate the ensemble and fill out the film’s location-based scenes.
His presence contributes youthful energy and regional credibility.
What to Expect: Brief moments that add local authenticity and texture.
Interesting facts: de Beer is represented by Artists One and works frequently in South African film and TV.
Notable Works: Moffie.
More Actors
• Jessica Leigh Stanley as Waitress.
• Chioma Antoinette Umeala as Bartender.
• Margot Wood as Elderly Woman.
• Dylan Skews as Officer 1.
FAQ – Novocaine (2025) Movie
Who stars in the movie?
The main cast includes Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel and Matt Walsh.
Is Novocaine based on a true story?
No. Novocaine is a fictional action comedy concept built around a rare medical condition.
What is the basic premise in one line?
A bank worker who cannot feel physical pain uses that rare condition to fight back after his crush is kidnapped during a robbery.
Where was Novocaine 2025 filmed?
Novocaine (2025) was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, that location doubled for scenes set in U.S. settings. More on 4filming
Is the movie suitable for kids?
No. The film contains intense, bloody action and dark humor and is intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.
Conclusion
Novocaine (2025) stays true to its goal of being an outrageous, fast-paced action comedy built around a strange but clever idea.
It does not try to be emotional or complex.
Instead, it keeps viewers entertained with wild fight scenes, nonstop energy, and dark humor.
Jack Quaid stands out as a pain-free hero caught in chaos, and Amber Midthunder adds a grounded touch to the story.
The plot and characters are simple, but the movie makes up for it with creativity and bold style.
If you enjoy films that are intense, messy, and full of surprises, Novocaine is a fun choice.
It is not aiming for perfection.
It is aiming to entertain, and it succeeds.