A group of would-be criminals kidnaps the 12-year-old daughter of a powerful underworld figure. Holding her for ransom in an isolated mansion, their plan starts to unravel when they discover their young captive is actually a bloodthirsty vampire.
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
Cast: Alisha Weir, Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, pervasive language and brief drug use.
Runtime:1h 49m
Review:
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's Abigail might be a little light on scares but it more than makes up for it with its fun, over the top energy and a game cast that make it one of the funniest horror comedies in recent memory. The directing duo recapture the energy that worked so well in their 2019 breakout, Ready or Not, with a bloody blend of cartoonish characters and increasingly outrageous dark comedy which plays like a mash up of Reservoir Dogs and From Dusk till Dawn. Those expecting anything new or terribly deep will be left disappointed since neither the story nor characters are fairly thin and straightforward. Thankfully, this is the kind of film that doesn't really require much from either, especially with an ensemble cast that's having as much fun as the directors are. Melissa Barrera is steady in the lead role, playing it straight for the majority of the film even as things get gorier and bloodier. The supporting cast is made up of familiar faces that are clearly relishing the chance to lean into the characters personas. Dan Stevens delivers another strong performance as a NY cop turned criminal, further proving his ability to morph into anybody onscreen. Kathryn Newton, in full Avril Lavigne cosplay, is great fun as the ditzy tech nerd of the group who gets some of the film's best lines. Kevin Durand brings a goofy likability to his meat head muscle highlighted by some solid chemistry with Newton. Angus Cloud, in his final screen performance, gets a few moments early on but his screen time is fairly brief, much like Giancarlo Esposito, in the grand scheme of things. Alisha Weir, who plays the kidnapped tween ballerina, really shines throughout as she shuffles between tween and ancient ghoul with incredible ease. She possesses a confidence onscreen that makes the film work far better than it would have been in lesser hands. Abigail stumbles a bit in the final act where you get the sense a few bits could have been excised to make for a leaner experience. It’s a minor issue and something that's easy to overlook once the film wraps up its goofy, gory trek that's sure to leave plenty of people smiling.
B+
