Can a man who feels no pain survive a high-stakes bank robbery gone wrong?
In short: Nathan Caine, a bank employee with congenital insensitivity to pain, finds his quiet life shattered when a violent robbery turns personal. Forced to rescue his kidnapped co-worker, he embarks on a brutal, adrenaline-fueled quest that tests the limits of his unique condition and his unexpected romantic entanglement.
Released in March 2025, the action comedy Novocaine centers on Nathan Caine, an introverted bank assistant manager living with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA). The film, directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, explores the consequences of Nathan's condition when he is thrust into a dangerous criminal underworld. After his boss is murdered during a bank heist, Nathan pursues the perpetrators to save his colleague and love interest, Sherry Margrave. The narrative takes a dark turn when it is revealed that Sherry was initially an accomplice to the robbers, though she developed genuine feelings for Nathan throughout their ordeal.
The production, which began principal photography in April 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, marks the first film from FilmNation Entertainment's label, Infrared. The film features an ensemble cast including Jack Quaid as Nathan and Amber Midthunder as Sherry. Critics generally responded positively to the film's premise and performances, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an 81% approval rating. Reviewers noted that while the film effectively utilizes its central hook, some felt the execution occasionally squandered the potential of its initial setup.
Commercially, the film debuted at the top of the box office with $8.8 million during a historically slow weekend for theaters in 2025. It ultimately grossed $34.5 million worldwide. The film's conclusion sees Nathan surviving his injuries after a climactic confrontation, resulting in a legal deal for his actions and a bittersweet reunion with Sherry in prison a year later. The film's soundtrack features a variety of tracks, including R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" and Chicago's "You’re the Inspiration," underscoring the tonal shifts between its romantic and action-oriented sequences.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Novocaine (2025 film)
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