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| “ | Pain tells you you're alive. What does that make me? | „ |
| ~ Nathan Caine |
Nathan Caine, also known as Novocaine, is the titular main protagonist of the 2025 action-comedy film of the same name.
A mild-mannered introvert with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), Nathan embarks on a relentless pursuit to rescue his love interest, Sherry Margrave, after she is kidnapped in a Christmas Eve bank heist.
Nathan Caine is portrayed by Jack Quaid, who also stars as Hughie Campbell in The Boys, Superman from My Adventures with Superman, and Brad Boimler in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Background[]
Nathan Caine is an assistant manager at a trust credit union in San Diego. Due to his rare medical condition, CIPA, he cannot feel pain or regulate his body temperature, leading him to live a cautious and reserved life. He has little experience with relationships, though his co-worker, Sherry Margrave, shows romantic interest in him. Their connection deepens after a night out, where Sherry playfully gets revenge on Nathan’s former middle school bully, who mockingly calls him "Novocaine."
Biography[]
The Bank Heist[]
On Christmas Eve, a gang of robbers dressed as Santa Claus, led by Simon Greenly, robs Nathan’s credit union and takes Sherry hostage. Determined to save her, Nathan impulsively steals a police car and chases after what he believes to be the getaway vehicle. However, he follows the wrong car, leading him to an altercation with one of the robbers, Ben Clark, inside a restaurant kitchen. In the ensuing fight, Nathan fatally shoots Ben but severely burns his own hand retrieving Ben’s gun from a deep fryer—an injury he doesn’t even feel.
Tracking Down the Gang[]
Noticing Ben's tattoo, Nathan tracks down its artist, Zeno, and coerces him into revealing Ben’s last name. Enlisting the help of his online gaming friend, Roscoe Dixon, Nathan finds Ben’s home address. Upon arrival, he is caught in a booby trap and strung up in a snare. As Nathan feigns pain to deceive Ben’s brother, Andre Clark, Roscoe unexpectedly arrives. Together, they overpower and kill Andre. However, police officers Mincy Langston and Coltraine Duffy arrive and mistakenly arrest Roscoe, who has switched clothes with Nathan.
Confrontation at the Auto Shop[]
Nathan eventually locates Sherry and Simon at an auto shop, where he learns that Sherry is Simon’s sister and had been involved in the heist. She initially seduced Nathan to gain access to the bank’s vault code but developed genuine feelings for him. When Simon attempts to execute Nathan, Officer Coltraine intervenes, shooting Simon before being killed in return. Simon then escapes in an ambulance carrying an unconscious Nathan, while Sherry, now determined to protect Nathan, pursues them.
Final Battle[]
Nathan regains consciousness inside the ambulance and breaks free from his handcuffs. He manages to use a defibrillator on Simon, causing the vehicle to crash. Enraged, Simon breaks Nathan’s arm, but before Simon can kill Sherry, Nathan injects himself with adrenaline and uses his exposed arm bone to fatally stab Simon through the jaw. Overwhelmed by his injuries, Nathan collapses.
Aftermath[]
Nathan wakes up in a hospital two weeks later to learn that he has been sentenced to six months of house arrest rather than a lengthy prison term due to his role in saving Officer Langston’s life. One year later, Nathan visits Sherry in prison as she nears the end of her sentence. Together, they share a cherry pie—Nathan’s first-ever solid food, which Sherry had introduced him to on their first date. As she is led back to her cell, Nathan smiles, symbolizing his growth and newfound appreciation for life.
Personality and Traits[]
Nathan Caine is initially portrayed as reserved and socially awkward, largely due to his condition. Despite his physical invulnerability, he avoids risks and struggles with emotional intimacy. However, throughout the film, he demonstrates surprising resilience, resourcefulness, and moral fortitude. His inability to feel pain becomes both an advantage and a vulnerability, allowing him to endure extreme injuries while forcing him to rely on his intellect and sheer determination to survive.
Abilities[]
- Congenital Insensitivity to Pain: Nathan is incapable of feeling pain, which allows him to endure severe injuries without flinching.
- Heightened Resilience: Though he does not have superhuman strength, his lack of pain response enables him to push his body beyond normal limits.
- Tactical Thinking: Nathan quickly adapts to intense situations, using unorthodox methods to track down the criminals.
- Improvised Combat Skills: Despite no formal combat training, he is capable of engaging in physical confrontations using brute force and creative problem-solving.
Relationships[]
- Sherry Margrave: Initially a co-worker with romantic interest in Nathan, Sherry’s connection with him deepens throughout the ordeal. Despite betraying him at first, she ultimately chooses to protect him.
- Roscoe Dixon: Nathan’s only real friend, whom he knows from online gaming. Roscoe proves to be a loyal ally and helps Nathan despite the dangers.
- Simon Greenly: The film’s primary antagonist and Sherry’s brother. He underestimates Nathan due to his condition, leading to his downfall.
Trivia[]
- Nathan’s nickname, "Novocaine," stems from his inability to feel pain, a taunt originally used by his childhood bully.
- The film’s cherry pie scene serves as a symbolic moment of Nathan experiencing something physically and emotionally fulfilling for the first time.
- The deep fryer scene is a homage to classic action films where heroes endure extreme pain to overcome their enemies—except Nathan doesn’t feel a thing.
- Jack Quaid underwent extensive research on CIPA to portray Nathan’s condition realistically.
Gallery[]
