Abigail REVIEW: Dracula’s daughter’s bloodbath game with her ‘food’ is a wickedly enjoyable ride

Film:
Abigail

Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Will Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Alisha Weir, Giancarlo Esposito

Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes 

Platform: In Theatres

Abigail Review

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Abigail is a very different kind of vampire movie. The gory horror-comedy takes place in against the eerie backdrop of a forgotten mansion in the middle of nowhere. It is centered around a group of criminals who abduct the 12-year-old daughter of an underworld crime lord for ransom oblivious of who he is. However, the tables turn when they realise the young girl in ‘care’ isn’t a timid ballerina but a bloodthirsty vampire. It follows the group as they try to survive the next 24 hours as the apparent victim is now overpowering them. 

The criminals in the film are Joey (Melissa Barrera) – a former Army medic and recovering drug addict with a dark secret, Frank (Dan Stevens) – a former detective, Sammy (Kathryn Newton) – a hacker belonging to a rich family, Peter (Kevin Durand) – a muscular oaf, Rickles (Will Catlett) – a marine sniper and Dean (late Angus Cloud) – a sociopathic driver. The team is formed by Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito) with the goal of kidnapping Abigail (Alisha Weir) and extracting money from her super-rich dad. However, strange events begin to occur as the six attempt to complete their task and earn $7 million from the gig. 

What Works

One of the best things about Abigail is Alisha Weir’s standout performance as the titular character. The chemistry among the cast and the film’s witty dialogues elevate the narrative’s intensity and unpredictability.

What Doesn’t Work

At times, the film’s gritty and dark aesthetic – intended to enhance the ambience, occasionally turns counter-productive making it difficult to enjoy the meticulous special effects and fight choreography. Another negative of the film is that the mystery is lost, as while the characters are trying to figure out what’s happening, the audience – who have seen the trailer, are very well aware of Abigail being a vampire.

Technical Analysis 

Story, Script & Dialogues

Written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, Abigail tactfully combines a character-driven story without the need for the usual trappings used in a horror thriller.  Like the character introduction scene – we get nearly every criminal’s backstory in an expositional way, but it feels organic for their situation. Abigail beautifully blends gore and humour that turns an otherwise clichéd premise into something fans are sure to love. The unusual vampire flick makes use of sharp, witty dialogue – with some pop culture references, to add some lightness to a blood-heavy narrative.  However, there are times you know what is coming and fail to experience the jump scare the makers intended for you.

Direction & Editing

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have done a commendable job bringing to life the story of Dracula’s daughter (because she’s a vampire and not cause her father is the Count per se) to life. The angles used to capture all of Abigail’s ballet moves as well as the eeriness of the classy but abandoned mansion deserve a mention. The duo also manage to capture the evilness and selfishness of the characters perfectly. 

Michael Shawver has done a good job at the editing table. From managing to keep the runtime below the 110-minute mark to making sure the transitions don’t disconnect the audience from feeling the thrills and chill, Michael impresses.

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Music

The music by Brian Tyler adds flavour to Abigail. It helps the audience sink more into the gory world. The titular character performing graceful ballet choreographies to pleasant music is nice. While there is nothing negative to say about the film’s music, it fails to leave a lasting impact.

Star Performances

One of the best things about Abigail is Alisha Weir‘s standout performance as the titular character. The young lady masterfully oscillates between angelic innocence and chilling malevolence while showing off her ballet moves. She will keep you hooked from the first second you see her on screen to the very end. Melissa Barrera delivers a nuanced performance as Joey, a tough yet motherly medic who is willing to cross mountains to reunite with her son. Melissa and Alisha share amazing chemistry as they interact with each other and form a surprising bond. The emotional scenes between them will wow you.

Dan Stevens impresses as the mercurial ex-cop Frank. He manages to keep the audience on edge with his unpredictable, self-serving nature and believable performance. Kathryn Newton as the rich-brat-turned-hacker Sammy is a breath of fresh air as she isn’t the typical American we see in horror flicks. Kevin Durand delivers a good performance as the money-hungry Peter who has more brawn than brains.

Will Catlett, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito have very limited screen time robbing fans of an opportunity to see them excel as their characters. Matthew Goode – even though he has the shortest time on screen, leaves you with chills.

Conclusion 

The film is a compelling watch thanks to the twist it brings to the classic kidnapping plot we’ve seen many times before. It reinvigorates the horror-thriller genre with refreshing performances and pop culture references in its dialogues. It reaches its full potential as a horror movie with content, comedy, characters, and carnage. Watch Abigail in theatres for an amazing cinematic experience, especially if you want to enjoy a good horror film.

Watch Abigail trailer here:

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