Abigail is a wildly entertaining horror-comedy that combines suspense, dark humour and action with a clever twist on the vampire genre. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmakers behind Ready or Not and Scream VI, the movie stars Alisha Weir as Abigail alongside Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito. Released in 2024, the film runs for 1 hour and 49 minutes and has received positive reviews from both critics and audiences.
The story follows a group of criminals hired to kidnap Abigail, a 12-year-old ballerina and the daughter of a wealthy and powerful underworld figure. Their assignment initially seems straightforward: take Abigail to an isolated mansion, watch her overnight and wait for a $50 million ransom. However, the kidnappers soon realise that their apparently helpless captive is far more dangerous than they expected. Trapped inside the mansion, the group must find a way to survive as their carefully planned kidnapping turns into a terrifying nightmare.
Alisha Weir is easily one of the film’s biggest strengths. After impressing audiences in Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, she takes on a dramatically different role and proves that she has impressive range as a young performer. Weir successfully switches between Abigail’s innocent appearance and her much darker personality, creating a character who can be amusing, frightening and unpredictable within the same scene.
Melissa Barrera also delivers a strong performance as Joey, one of the kidnappers who gradually becomes suspicious of the situation. Dan Stevens is entertaining as Frank, while Kathryn Newton provides some of the movie’s funniest moments as Sammy. The chemistry between the kidnappers works particularly well because each has a distinctive personality, allowing the film to mix character-driven comedy with its horror elements.
The directors make excellent use of the mansion setting. Locked rooms, dark corridors and hidden dangers create an atmosphere as the characters realise that escaping will not be easy. This approach gives Abigail an energetic personality and helps separate it from more traditional vampire movies.
Abigail is a fun, fast-paced and unapologetically bloody horror-comedy that puts an entertaining spin on the vampire genre. Alisha Weir gives a standout performance in the title role, while the strong supporting cast, dark humour and inventive action make the movie an enjoyable choice for viewers who prefer their horror with plenty of personality and a touch of comedy.
RATINGS:
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
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