{"id":1000062295,"date":"2026-07-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinesist.wordpress.com\/?p=848"},"modified":"2026-07-26T02:31:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T07:31:28","slug":"novocaine-review","status":"publish","type":"cinesist-review","link":"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/movie-reviews\/novocaine-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Novocaine Review: Numbly Mediocre, But With One Clever Jab! \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\ude35"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"cinesist-wrapper wp-block-paragraph\">We finally dove into <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/snarkive\/movie\/novocaine-2025\/\"><em>Novocaine<\/em> <\/a>on <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/tag\/paramount-plus\/\">Paramount+<\/a>! With a premise like &#8220;can&#8217;t feel pain&#8221; and <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/snarkive\/person\/jack-quaid\/\" data-type=\"person\" data-id=\"1000044231\">Jack Quaid<\/a>, we had hopes. Did it deliver? Well, it was&#8230; alright. Here&#8217;s the unfiltered truth on this middle-of-the-road action-thriller. \ud83e\udd37\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio cinesist-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Novocaine | Final Trailer (2025 Movie) - Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson,  Jacob Batalon\" width=\"1240\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/99BLnkAlC1M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">They say Novocaine lets you feel no pain. After watching this trailer, you might just feel&#8230; no excitement. \ud83d\ude09<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cinesist-wrapper wp-block-paragraph\">Alright, Operatives, gather &#8217;round, because we just took one for the team. We plunged into the depths of <em>Novocaine<\/em>, a film promising a protagonist who &#8220;can&#8217;t feel pain&#8221; \u2013 which, let&#8217;s be real, sounds like a recipe for <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:var(--snarkive-purple)\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>MAXIMUM SNARK<\/strong><\/mark>, chaos and some gloriously stupid action sequences. Unfortunately, much like its namesake, this movie left us feeling&#8230; mostly numb. It&#8217;s that kind of &#8216;alright&#8217; that makes you question your life choices, but also wonder if you actually saw something worthwhile in the haze. We rate it a <strong>5<\/strong>, and trust us, that&#8217;s being <em>generous<\/em>. Prepare for a rollercoaster of mediocrity, punctuated by one genuinely Oscar-Worthy twist we <em>might<\/em> just forgive the rest for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large cinesist-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Novocaine-Movie-Still-Novocaine-Holding-Gun-in-Garage-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Jack Quaid as his character in Novocaine, wearing a leather jacket and white t-shirt, with blood smears on his face, holding a revolver and looking determined in a dimly lit garage or industrial setting.\" class=\"wp-image-1000044546\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">When you realize being immune to pain means you&#8217;re just really good at getting into trouble. Jack Quaid, living his best (and most violently chaotic) life in &#8216;Novocaine&#8217;. Still just &#8216;alright,&#8217; though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading cinesist-wrapper\">The Premise: More Painful Than Promised?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The core concept of&nbsp;<em>Novocaine<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 a guy who literally can\u2019t feel pain \u2013 sounds like <strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:var(--cinesist-gold)\" class=\"has-inline-color\">PURE CINEMA!<\/mark><\/strong> for a gritty, over-the-top action thriller, right? You imagine him shrugging off bullet wounds, walking through fire, perhaps using a live grenade as a party favor. And for a glorious, fleeting moment, the film&nbsp;<em>flirts<\/em>&nbsp;with this concept, delivering some moderately creative action sequences where Jack Quaid\u2019s character, Nate, shrugs off hits like he\u2019s just spilled coffee. Quaid himself does a commendable job, proving he can carry a film even when the film itself feels like it\u2019s dragging concrete boots.<br>This film seems almost&nbsp;<em>afraid<\/em>&nbsp;of its own premise. It promises glorious, uninhibited chaos born from a superpower, but then backs off, delivering something strangely\u2026 safe. It\u2019s like being promised a Hollywood Demon and getting a moderately grumpy accountant. (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/movies\/movie-reviews\/the-accountant-2-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Speaking of accountants, did you see our Review of the&nbsp;<em>Accountant 2<\/em>? That one had explosions!<\/a><\/strong>) We were ready for the full blunt force trauma, but&nbsp;<em>Novocaine<\/em>&nbsp;opted for a gentle pinch. UGHHHH!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cinesist-wrapper wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n  <section class=\"cinesist-spoiler-warning-block\">\n    <div class=\"cinesist-spoiler-inner\">\n      <span class=\"cinesist-spoiler-icon\">\ud83d\udea8<\/span>\n      <p class=\"cinesist-spoiler-text\"><strong>SPOILER ALERT!<\/strong> Hold up, genius! If you read past this point, that's entirely on you. Your pure, unspoiled joy is about to shatter. Don't say we didn't warn you. We're not your mom, but we're definitely judging. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n  \n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading cinesist-wrapper\"><strong>The Twist: A Shot of Adrenaline in a Sea of Meh!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, for the Oscar-Worthy moment that almost,&nbsp;<em>almost<\/em>, made us forget the preceding mediocrity. You follow Nate as he tears through the city, dodging bullets and breaking bones, all for a girl he\u2019s apparently smitten with. You expect the typical damsel-in-distress, ride-or-die scenario. And then\u2026&nbsp;<strong>BAM!<\/strong>&nbsp;The big reveal hits harder than a concrete block to the face (which Nate would probably just shrug off). The girl he\u2019s been tearing up the city for(<a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/snarkive\/person\/amber-midthunder\/\" data-type=\"person\" data-id=\"1000044474\">Amber Midthunder<\/a>)? Yeah, she was&nbsp;<strong>in on the whole scam and robbery<\/strong>&nbsp;from the very beginning.<br><br>It\u2019s a clever, genuinely surprising twist that injects a much-needed jolt of sharp take into an otherwise predictable plot. It reshapes everything you thought you knew, making you reconsider every single one of her sweet smiles and helpless glances. It\u2019s the kind of betrayal that makes for PURE CINEMATIC GOLD! and leaves you muttering, \u201cWell,&nbsp;<em>I<\/em>&nbsp;didn\u2019t see that coming!\ud83d\udc40\u201d This single plot twist elevates the film from a complete bad decision to something that at least has one memorable, Hollywood Demon-level moment. Thank you for your service, plot twist!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was a few other things to point out, like Nates gamer friend Roscoe(<a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/snarkive\/person\/jacob-batalon\/\" data-type=\"person\" data-id=\"1000044476\">Jacob Batalon<\/a>), Yea&#8230; he talks a big game and comes through on a few occasions, especially with the <em>Fuzz<\/em>. But the twist of the friend is the definition of Online persona.. You have to see it, I dont want to ruin it for you. Remembber the Spoiler\ud83d\udea8 warning from earlier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading cinesist-wrapper\"><strong>The Verdict: Should You Watch This? Meh&#8230; But That Twist Though!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, where does&nbsp;<em>Novocaine<\/em>&nbsp;land on the Cinesist judgement scale? It\u2019s a film with flashes of brilliance (the twist, Jack Quaid\u2019s commitment) surrounded by a generous helping of \u201cjust alright.\u201d It\u2019s not offensively bad, but it\u2019s not going to set your world on fire, like Nate does through the entire movie. It\u2019s the cinematic equivalent of elevator music \u2013 it exists, it fills a space, and you\u2019ll forget it five minutes after you\u2019ve left. If you\u2019re scrolling through Paramount+ with absolutely nothing else calling your name, and you\u2019re curious about one surprisingly clever betrayal, then sure, inject&nbsp;<em>Novocaine<\/em>&nbsp;into your watchlist. But don\u2019t expect a high-octane rush. Just a dull ache with one surprising, satisfying sting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote cinesist-wrapper\"><blockquote><p>When the girl of his dreams (Amber Midthunder) is kidnapped, everyman Nate (Jack Quaid) turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.<\/p><cite>Paramount Pictures<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"Review\",\n    \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Cipher\"\n    },\n    \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"The Cinesist Network\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/cinesist.com\",\n        \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/cinesist.com\"\n    },\n    \"itemReviewed\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Movie\",\n        \"name\": \"Novocaine\",\n        \"image\": \"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/xmMHGz9dVRaMY6rRAlEX4W0Wdhm.webp\",\n        \"director\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n            \"name\": \"Dan Berk, Robert Olsen\"\n        },\n        \"author\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n            \"name\": \"Lars Jacobson\"\n        }\n    },\n    \"reviewRating\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Rating\",\n        \"ratingValue\": \"4\",\n        \"bestRating\": \"10\",\n        \"worstRating\": \"1\"\n    },\n    \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-26T00:00:00-05:00\",\n    \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-26T02:31:28-05:00\",\n    \"description\": \"I wouldn't watch it again let alone pay \\ud83d\\udcb26. It's the kind of movie that makes you wonder if you accidentally hit pause on your life for two hours.It's not good enough to remember. It just... exists. Elevator music for your eyeballs\\ud83d\\ude44.\"\n}\n<\/script>\n<div id=\"cs-review-box-block_a69b0b8c2c6dd7f6bae98619b6c34911\" class=\"cs-review-box-wrapper \"\n    \t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"background-image: linear-gradient(to right, var(--flex-gray-70) 40%, var(--flex-gray-65) 90%), url('https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/lyBH2mFFU6qrHwD5QKotL2JnEb6-2.webp');\"\n    >\n    <!-- Top Meta Specification Bar -->\n<div class=\"cs-review-top-bar\">\n    <!-- Row 1: Primary Title Branding -->\n    <div class=\"cs-top-bar-row-main\">\n        <h1 class=\"top-bar-title\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/movie\/novocaine-2025\/\"\n                class=\"cs-review-title-link\">Novocaine<\/a>\n                                    <span class=\"top-bar-year\">(2025)<\/span>\n                    <\/h1>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Row 2: Secondary Film Metadata -->\n    <div class=\"cs-top-bar-row-meta\">\n        <span class=\"top-bar-item\"><span class=\"top-bar-label\">DIRECTOR:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/person\/dan-berk-2\/\" class=\"cdb-person-link\">Dan Berk<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/person\/robert-olsen-2\/\" class=\"cdb-person-link\">Robert Olsen<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"top-bar-sep\">|<\/span> <span class=\"top-bar-item\"><span class=\"top-bar-label\">WRITER:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/person\/lars-jacobson-3\/\" class=\"cdb-person-link\">Lars Jacobson<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"top-bar-sep\">|<\/span> <span class=\"top-bar-item\"><span class=\"top-bar-label\">RUNTIME:<\/span> 110 MINS<\/span>    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Row 3: Taxonomies (Age Rating & Genres) -->\n    <div class=\"cs-top-bar-row-taxonomies\">\n                                <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/mpa-rating\/r\/\"\n            class=\"cs-rating-pill\">R<\/a>\n                \n                <span class=\"top-bar-sep\">|<\/span>\n        \n                <span class=\"top-bar-label\">GENRE:<\/span>\n        <div class=\"cs-genre-pills\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/genre\/action\/\"\n                class=\"cs-genre-pill\">\ud83d\udca5Action<\/a>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/genre\/comedy\/\"\n                class=\"cs-genre-pill\">\ud83d\ude02Comedy<\/a>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/db\/genre\/thriller\/\"\n                class=\"cs-genre-pill\">\ud83e\udd2bThriller<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"cs-review-container\">\n    <div class=\"cs-review-grid-layout\">\n        <!-- Left Column: Poster with Overlay Gem Badge -->\n        <div class=\"cs-review-poster-col\">\n                        <div class=\"cs-review-poster-wrapper\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/xmMHGz9dVRaMY6rRAlEX4W0Wdhm.webp\" alt=\"Novocaine\"\n                    class=\"cs-review-poster-img\" \/>\n\n                <!-- Dynamic Cinescore Hexagon Gem Badge with SVG Progress Fill -->\n                <div class=\"cs-review-gem-overlay\">\n                    <svg class=\"cs-review-gem-svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 100 110\">\n                        <defs>\n                            <linearGradient id=\"cs-hexagon-gradient\" x1=\"0%\" y1=\"0%\" x2=\"100%\" y2=\"100%\">\n                                <stop offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--cs-brand-700)\" \/>\n                                <stop offset=\"100%\" stop-color=\"var(--cs-brand)\" \/>\n                            <\/linearGradient>\n                        <\/defs>\n                        <!-- Background Hexagon -->\n                        <polygon class=\"hexagon-bg\" points=\"50,5 95,30 95,80 50,105 5,80 5,30\" \/>\n                        <!-- Active Progress Hexagon (Perimeter \u2248 310) -->\n                                                <polygon class=\"hexagon-progress\" points=\"50,5 95,30 95,80 50,105 5,80 5,30\"\n                            style=\"stroke-dasharray: 310; stroke-dashoffset: 186;\" \/>\n                                            <\/svg>\n                    <div class=\"cs-review-gem-text-container\">\n                        <span class=\"cs-review-gem-val val-trash\">4<\/span>\n                        <span class=\"cs-review-gem-lbl\">CINESCORE<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\n        <!-- Right Column: Specs, Verdict, Moments, CTA -->\n        <div class=\"cs-review-content-col\">\n            <!-- Section 1: Ratings and Verdict Metrics -->\n            <div class=\"cs-review-section-block\">\n                <h3 class=\"cs-review-section-title\">CINESCORE DNA<\/h3>\n                                <div class=\"cs-review-metrics-grid\">\n                                        <div class=\"metric-bar-item\">\n                        <div class=\"metric-bar-meta\">\n                            <span class=\"metric-name\">\ud83d\udcd4                                PLOT (OR LACK THEREOF)<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"metric-progress-row\">\n                            <div class=\"metric-progress-track\">\n                                <div class=\"metric-progress-fill\" style=\"width: 20%;\">\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <span\n                                class=\"metric-progress-val\">2\/10<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"metric-bar-item\">\n                        <div class=\"metric-bar-meta\">\n                            <span class=\"metric-name\">\u2b50                                PERFORMANCE PAYLOAD<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"metric-progress-row\">\n                            <div class=\"metric-progress-track\">\n                                <div class=\"metric-progress-fill\" style=\"width: 50%;\">\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <span\n                                class=\"metric-progress-val\">5\/10<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"metric-bar-item\">\n                        <div class=\"metric-bar-meta\">\n                            <span class=\"metric-name\">\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f                                EXECUTION &amp; DIRECTION<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"metric-progress-row\">\n                            <div class=\"metric-progress-track\">\n                                <div class=\"metric-progress-fill\" style=\"width: 30%;\">\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <span\n                                class=\"metric-progress-val\">3\/10<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"metric-bar-item\">\n                        <div class=\"metric-bar-meta\">\n                            <span class=\"metric-name\">\ud83d\udd0a                                VISUALS &amp; VIBES<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"metric-progress-row\">\n                            <div class=\"metric-progress-track\">\n                                <div class=\"metric-progress-fill\" style=\"width: 60%;\">\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <span\n                                class=\"metric-progress-val\">6\/10<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"metric-bar-item\">\n                        <div class=\"metric-bar-meta\">\n                            <span class=\"metric-name\">\u23f1\ufe0f                                PACING<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"metric-progress-row\">\n                            <div class=\"metric-progress-track\">\n                                <div class=\"metric-progress-fill\" style=\"width: 50%;\">\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <span\n                                class=\"metric-progress-val\">5\/10<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"metric-bar-item\">\n                        <div class=\"metric-bar-meta\">\n                            <span class=\"metric-name\">\ud83d\udd04                                REWATCH FACTOR<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"metric-progress-row\">\n                            <div class=\"metric-progress-track\">\n                                <div class=\"metric-progress-fill\" style=\"width: 30%;\">\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <span\n                                class=\"metric-progress-val\">3\/10<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n\n            <!-- Section 2: Verdict & Pitch Hub -->\n            <div class=\"cs-review-section-block\">\n                <h3 class=\"cs-review-section-title\">SHOULD YOU WATCH\n                    NOVOCAINE                    (2025)?<\/h3>\n                <div class=\"cs-review-verdict-summary\">\n                                        <div class=\"cs-review-should-watch\">\n                        <p><span class=\"pitch-label\">\ud83d\udc40<\/span> I wouldn&#039;t watch it again let alone pay \ud83d\udcb26. It&#039;s the kind of movie that makes you wonder if you accidentally hit pause on your life for two hours.It&#039;s not good enough to remember. It just&#8230; exists. Elevator music for your eyeballs\ud83d\ude44.                        <\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    \n                    <div class=\"cs-review-verdict-badge\">\n                        <span class=\"verdict-label\">RATED:<\/span>\n                                                <a href=\"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/cinescore\/trash\/\"\n                            class=\"verdict-val vibe-trash\">\n                            TRASH\ud83d\uddd1\ufe0f                        <\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <!-- Section 3: Where to Watch Button -->\n                        <div class=\"cs-review-cta-row\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4gYK27t\" class=\"cs-review-cta-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n                    THEY CUT THE PRICE\ud83d\ude44                                        &#8211; $3.99                                    <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <!-- Section 4: Gold Moments vs Bad Decisions (Collapsible Drawer) -->\n                        <details class=\"cs-review-moments-drawer\">\n                <summary class=\"cs-moments-toggle\">\n                    <span class=\"cs-moments-toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\">\n                            <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10 3a.75.75 0 01.53.22l5.25 5.25a.75.75 0 01-1.06 1.06L10 4.81 5.28 9.53a.75.75 0 01-1.06-1.06L9.47 3.22A.75.75 0 0110 3zm-5.22 9.72a.75.75 0 011.06 0L10 17.19l4.72-4.47a.75.75 0 011.06 1.06l-5.25 5a.75.75 0 01-1.06 0l-5.25-5a.75.75 0 010-1.06z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n                        <\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                    <span class=\"cs-moments-toggle-label\">Expand Good vs Bad<\/span>\n                <\/summary>\n                <div class=\"cs-moments-panel\">\n                    <!-- Gold Moments Column -->\n                    <div class=\"moments-col gold-col\">\n                        <h4 class=\"moments-title\">\ud83d\udcb0 CINEMATIC GOLD<\/h4>\n                                                <ul class=\"moments-list\">\n                            <li>It eventually ended. Seriously, that&#039;s a plus.<\/li>                            <li>The actors were, indeed, present and accounted for. They showed up!<\/li>                            <li>The cinematography didn&#039;t actively offend my eyeballs. Low bar, but hey, it cleared it!<\/li>                        <\/ul>\n                                            <\/div>\n                    <!-- VS Divider -->\n                    <div class=\"moments-vs-divider\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                        <span class=\"moments-vs-line\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"moments-vs-label\">VS<\/span>\n                        <span class=\"moments-vs-line\"><\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <!-- Bad Decisions Column -->\n                    <div class=\"moments-col bad-col\">\n                        <h4 class=\"moments-title\">\ud83d\udc80 BAD DECISIONS<\/h4>\n                                                <ul class=\"moments-list\">\n                            <li>The plot twists were less surprising than a magician revealing a rabbit from a hat.<\/li>                            <li>It made me question my life choices for two hours. That&#039;s my time, people!<\/li>                            <li>More forgettable than my Wi-Fi password after a week.<\/li>                        <\/ul>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/details>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Novocaine: Jack Quaid promises pain but delivers mostly mediocrity. Yet, one clever twist almost made us forget the numbness. \ud83d\ude35\u200d\ud83d\udcab\ud83d\udc89<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":853,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[769,1506],"tags":[263,734,735],"cinescore":[2617],"keyword":[1294,1134,1292,1293],"class_list":["post-1000062295","cinesist-review","type-cinesist-review","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movie-reviews","category-movies-realm","tag-paramount-plus","tag-robbery-film","tag-twist-ending","cinescore-trash","keyword-betrayal","keyword-heist","keyword-numb","keyword-shocking-twist"],"acf":{"cinesist_sub_title":"Novocaine is a Thriller Where He Can't Feel Pain, and After Watching It, We're Pretty Sure Our Brains Are Numb Too!","cinesist_sub_title_source":{"label":"Cinesist Subtitle","type":"text","formatted_value":"Novocaine is a Thriller Where He Can't Feel Pain, and After Watching It, We're Pretty Sure Our Brains Are Numb Too!"},"primary_subject":"","primary_subject_source":{"label":"Primary Subject","type":"relationship","formatted_value":""},"is_cinesist_review":true,"is_cinesist_review_source":{"label":"Toggle Review","type":"true_false","formatted_value":true},"reviewed_title":"","reviewed_title_source":{"label":"Reviewed Title","type":"relationship","formatted_value":""},"mentioned_titles":"","mentioned_titles_source":{"label":"Mentioned Titles","type":"relationship","formatted_value":""},"mentioned_people":"","mentioned_people_source":{"label":"Mentioned People","type":"relationship","formatted_value":""},"mentioned_characters":[],"mentioned_characters_source":{"label":"Mentioned Characters","type":"taxonomy","formatted_value":false}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/novocaine-movie-review-feature-e1750322102823-1-1.webp",480,448,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/novocaine-movie-review-feature-e1750322102823-1-1-150x150.webp",150,150,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/novocaine-movie-review-feature-e1750322102823-1-1.webp",480,448,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/novocaine-movie-review-feature-e1750322102823-1-1.webp",480,448,false],"cinesist-hero":["https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/novocaine-movie-review-feature-e1750322102823-1-1.webp",480,448,false],"cinesist-square":["https:\/\/cinesist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/novocaine-movie-review-feature-e1750322102823-1-1.webp",480,448,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Cipher","author_link":"https:\/\/cinesist.com\/members\/cipher\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In Novocaine: Jack Quaid promises pain but delivers mostly mediocrity. 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