Abigail review
A repeating loop of violence makes for a fun watch…but a lack of big swings puts a cap on how much.
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
Abigail
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
Written by Guy Busick and Stephen Shields
Starring Giancarlo Esposito, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Matthew Goode, Kevin Durand, Melissa Barrera and Alisha Weir
Abigail Review
The directors of the Scream reboot series are back to play with a deadly diminutive vampire. Abigail has more in common with their other hit Ready or Not…which is a good thing. You really can’t go wrong either way. Buckets of blood, explosive kills, and a few laughs along the way. They haven’t set out to reinvent the vampiric wheel…just to have some fun in the sandbox. On this level, Abigail is a success. Even if it occasionally leaves you wishing it explored some new territory.
A group of criminals is assembled for a routine kidnapping that turns out to be anything but. Joey (Melissa Barrera), Frank (Dan Stevens), Sammy (Kathryn Newton), Peter (Kevin Durand), Rickels (William Catlett) and Dean (Angus Cloud) abduct a young ballerina named Abigail (Alisha Weir) and deliver her to their boss Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito). They wait out the night in a safe house waiting for the girl’s father to deliver their 50-million-dollar ransom. Unbeknownst to them…they’re locked down with a vampire.
The first thing that stands out about Abigail is its excellent cast. While Stevens and Barrera take center stage, this is a true ensemble piece. Weir steals her scenes as the brutally murderous titular character. Newton remains a fun watch in everything that isn’t a bottom of the barrel Marvel movie. Everyone gets their time to shine…at least until they find themselves without a head or exploding into a puddle of blood and entrails.
Abigail is a very bloody movie. Seemingly wanting to top the exploding deaths that highlight the climax of Ready or Not…directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet have brought buckets of blood to cake both the actors and the set. It’s fun gore…from (pardon the pun) execution to aftermath. The movie also has some fun with vampire tropes. The characters are aware of vampire lore…but not sure what applies to the reality of their situation. It’s a real trial and error situation. A stake through the heart? Check. Sunlight? Check. A Crucifix? Not so much.
Even the way vampires are made is a question in the Abigail universe. There are different levels to this. Something that the movie plays to its advantage. Needless to say, the kidnappers become test subjects for what does (and doesn’t) work. It may be more accurate to call them canon fodder. Abigail is a relentless killing machine…and the group is ill-equipped for survival.
Abigail often feels like a video game with a satisfying gameplay loop. Survive a run and start a new one. It adds up to a satisfying viewing experience…but lacks the depth needed to be anything more. Outside of Joey’s personal backstory…the characters are largely two-dimensional. Again…fun for a gameplay loop…lacking for a standout story. Abigail has the second most interesting story in the movie…and even that is a one note thing. The consistently fun performances elevate the slightness of the story.
The story is where Abigail misses the mark. A group of criminals being hunted by a ballerina vampire child is a fun concept. It’s fun in practice too. But that’s really all there is here. If you tire of the loop before the end credits arrive…you might find yourself left wanting. The production ups the blood factor as the movie rolls on…but buckets of blood are a poor substitute for a story of substance. Unless you really like that loop.
Abigail will play best in a crowded theater. Meant to be consumed along with a bucket of popcorn and a room full of laughing strangers. Weir’s performance is the kind that can stand as a memorable antagonist even if the movie itself falls short of that level of distinction. Likable actors have fun locked inside a twisted house of horrors…even if they always feel a step away from connecting with the audience. A movie that feels cool when you’re watching it…but leaves you a little cold on the ride home.
Scare Value
Abigail is a classic fun movie that can’t elevate itself to great movie. It’s a good movie. Full of good performances and dripping with copious amounts of blood. A popcorn movie that should be a crowd pleaser on first watch…but is unlikely to hold up upon further viewings. An easy recommendation for a fun night out with friends. A word of caution to anyone hoping for something more.
3/5
Abigail Link
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