Radio Silence Productions got plenty of attention after 2019’s Ready or Not became a critical and commercial success. The directing duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett helmed the fifth and sixth installments in the long-dormant Scream franchise. Both films received positive reviews and grossed over $100 million at the box office, cementing their place in horror history. In April 2023, they announced work on a new project with Universal Studios loosely based on 1936’s Dracula’s Daughter. Universal Studios clarified that they wanted each film to stand alone and give filmmakers more creative freedom. With a $28 million budget, filming started in Dublin in June before being suspended due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming wrapped in December, but sadly, cast member Angus Cloud passed away in July from a drug overdose. After premiering at the Overlook Film Festival, the newly-retitled Abigail hit theaters in April 2024.
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Synopsis
Crime boss Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito) hires a group of six criminals to kidnap young ballerina Abigail (Alisha Weir). After kidnapping her, the group must wait in an old mansion while Lambert negotiates with the girl’s father. While the rest of the group keeps a lookout, group member Joey (Melissa Barrera) must be Abigail’s sole caretaker. As the night goes on, they get picked off one by one under mysterious circumstances, leading to internal struggles. On top of that, the mansion’s security system activates, trapping them inside with seemingly no way out. Soon, the group learns the truth – Abigail is a vampire, and the whole kidnapping was a trap. What started as a seemingly easy job becomes a fight for survival as the thieves fight off the young vampire. Before long, the group learns more than they bargained for as they try to fend off Abigail.
Review
I’m glad I never saw a trailer for Abigail because I was surprised by how good this movie was. This is one of the most fun, violent, and entertaining movies I’ve seen in quite some time. I wish I hadn’t known about the vampire twist, but I understand the movie needs to sell its gimmick. Admittedly, going in knowing that adds to the suspense as you’re left wondering when she’ll turn and attack them. It helps that Alisha Weir delivers a standout performance, going from scared and helpless to evil and conniving without fail. Everyone in the cast does a great job, and none of them feel secondary in the slightest. Melissa Barrera is tough and likable, Dan Stevens is wonderfully despicable, and Giancarlo Esposito shines in his few scenes. Kathryn Newton and Kevin Durand’s relationship is sweet, Will Catlett is strong, and the late Angus Cloud excels.
Like their 2019 outing, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett deliver a bloody good time with tons of practical gore effects. By the movie’s end, not a single room in the mansion is left unstained by blood, and it’s great. The movie is so bloody that the directors had to apologize to the actors for how much blood they used. Thankfully, it never feels like the gore is there for the sake of being there, like so many other movies. The movie also reinvents the vampire lore by showing that specific weaknesses aren’t practical in this universe. The film introduces a ton of lore, but it never feels unnecessary or detracts from the rest of the story. Also, the movie takes some genuine twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised by them. It helps that the movie clocks in at slightly under two hours long.
On the topic of this being a remake, this movie honestly doesn’t share much in common with Dracula’s Daughter. Not once is Dracula mentioned by name, nor is Abigail referred to as being The Count’s daughter. The only significant connection between the two is using the Swan Lake theme, which is a nice touch. If I can be honest, I’m struggling to find things to discuss with this movie without getting into spoilers. In a time where we’re inundated with sequels, remakes, and reboots, original movies like this are a rarity. The cast is excellent, the effects are gruesome, the direction is solid, and the pacing works. You’ll have a good time if you’re a horror fan who enjoys splatter and liked the directors’ previous work. Overall, Abigail is one of the most fun theater-going experiences I’ve had this year, and I highly recommend it.
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