ABIGAIL – “A blood and guts crowd pleaser with comedic bite to boot”

(from left) Abigail (Alisha Weir) and Sammy (Kathryn Newton) in Abigail, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett.

RATING

DIRECTOR

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett

MAIN CAST

Melissa Barrera as Joey
Dan Stevens as Frank
Alisha Weir as Abigail
Kathryn Newton as Sammy
Kevin Durand as Peter
Angus Cloud as Dean
Giancarlo Esposito as Lambert

SYNOPSIS

Is loosely based on the 1936 Universal Classic Monsters film Dracula's Daughter

Kidnappers capture and must watch over Abigail, the daughter of a powerful underworld figure from whom they demand a $50 million ransom. However, they soon get more than what they bargain for when they realize that they are trapped inside with no ordinary little girl but a vampire child who hunts them down one by one.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Abigail is a blood and guts crowd pleaser with comedic bite to boot. Yep, you wouldn’t know it from the advertisements, but this film has some serious laugh out loud moments. That doesn’t mean the creep factor is diminished though. You see, our filmmakers have done an excellent job at balancing the varied tones and blending the different genres at play. It’s part crime film, part action comedy, and part supernatural horror. But, most importantly, it’s always fun! And that fun mostly comes courtesy of our eclectic cast of characters, each bringing their own unique vibe to the proceedings. They are certainly a colorful bunch. As for the not-so-secret “vampire” element, the movie plays with the tropes and mythos in some fun ways. Alisha Weir deserves a nice tip of the hat for her devilishly effective fanged portrayal as Abigail. She seriously commits to the part. And maybe that’s what I enjoyed most about this feature – everyone’s commitment. They are clearly having fun with the material (and each other). The special effects and production team also do a nice job of delivering the gore - especially by the end. Speaking of which, the finale is a bit on the clumsy side, but nothing that will leave a sour taste in your mouth. Au contraire, Abigail will leave you licking your lips from a deliciously disturbed good time.

BOX OFFICE TOP 5

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8.5

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