Film Review: Abigail

Abigail is the latest film from Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the directing duo often referred to as “Radio Silence,” following their hit Ready Or Not and two recent Scream films. Written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, it’s a reimagining of sorts of the 1936 Universal monster film, Dracula’s Daughter. It follows a group of kidnappers who were tasked to kidnap a young girl named Abigail (Alisha Weir), and to hold her in an isolated mansion until her mysterious father pays the eventual ransom. Unfortunately for them, they come to realize it has all been a trap, and Abigail is actually a vampire, and they are her prey.

The group we have consists of Joey (Melissa Barrera), Frank (Dan Stevens), Rickles (Will Catlett), Sammy (Kathryn Newton), Peter (Kevin Durand), Dean (Angus Cloud), all aliases, since they purposefully keep from knowing each other’s names. Each have their own roles in the assignment, like Peter being the muscle, Sammy being the hacker, Dean as the getaway driver, etc., but it all ultimately turns into a fight for survival once they figure out they were duped into being trapped in the mansion with little Abigail on the loose, taking them out one by one.

The film is a classic genre setup that very much leans into being a simple, straightforward genre exercise with not a whole lot of switch-ups or greater ambitions to transcend its simplistic roots. It sets up your expectations as to the kind of movie it is, and it simply delivers just that. And thankfully, the film they’re going for is one that is gleefully violent and very quirky and filled with an admiration for vampire lore and history. So, if any of that sounds like your cup of tea, this is definitely not one you should miss out on.

Barrera really shines as Joey, managing to take the little backstory we get through exposition appear meaningful and emotionally resonating, touching on her experience as a flawed mother, a throughline that weaves into her relationship with Abigail since she was initially meant to be the one team member meant to interact with the girl while keeping her hostage. Stevens steals the show as the de facto leader of the group, one who is never without a snide and snarky comment. He is an absolute delight here. And the same goes to the rest of the cast, who admittedly don’t even get the level of depth of the other two characters I mentioned, so they largely resort to shtick. Which I was ultimately fine with because it works and there is a real commitment to the bit.

Weir is a total blast to watch, as she really sinks her teeth (pun intended) into the role as this destructive force of nature that toys with these criminals before taking them out in bloody fashion, often accompanied by some ballet moves. You know, just for the dramatic flair of it all. The deaths are very bloody and really fun, and the film moves at a brisk pace to keep you invested in the chaos of it all. Admittedly, it does sometimes feel like a bit of Ready Or Not deja vu, given the similar mansion setting, the dark yellow tint to the visuals, the slightly comedic violence, and even the exploding body element. It does feel at times like the filmmakers are pulling on tricks they know work as opposed to trying to come up with something more fresh.

All that said, the people behind Abigail are working with intention and they are all skilled craftsmen and technicians who are able to deliver an expertly constructed horror film that is truly a non-stop entertaining roller coaster of a movie. While I wasn’t especially scared as I was watching the film, I was still very much invested in the story, and I was very entertained by the antics and the terrible violence that our characters have been dealt with. The cast all do a wonderful job in elevating the material, and making the most out of what they were given, each making a memorable turn that allows for some personality to shine through the screen in between all the bits of gruesome action. It’s pure and unabashed B-movie thrills from start to finish, and where it lacks in character and thematic depth, it more than makes up for in fun and visceral vampire madness. It might not be the best, inventive, or most significant horror picture to come out this year, but it sure makes for a fun time at the movies.

Abigail is now out in theaters.