I thought I’d review this film before the new Scream movie comes out next month and the Ready or Not sequel due in March since the directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett made Scream [2022], Scream VI [2023], and Ready or Not [2019]. Of course, Abigail’s story doesn’t have anything to do with Scream, however it does have one thing in common – Gore! This vampire flick first came to theaters in 2024 from Universal Pictures.
Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, Kevin Durand, and Dan Stevens
The film opens with a little ballerina dancing to Swan Lake and returning to her home where she is kidnapped with a vile that makes her incapacitated. Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito (Chupacabra Terror [2005])) organized a team who are capable of such a feat with their skills and holds the little girl hostage to get $50 million from her father. There’s Frank (Dan Stevens (Vamps [2012]), the leader, Joey (Melissa Barrera (Scream [2022])) with her miliary training, Peter (Kevin Durand (Legion [2010])) is the one with the muscles but not the brightest of the bunch, Dean (Angus Cloud) is the wheelman, Sammy (Kathryn Newton (Freaky [2020])), the hacker, and Rickles (Will Catlett (Never Let Go [2024])), the gunman. Sadly, during production Angus had a drug overdose and died which prompted his kill scene to be moved up earlier than previously expected due to the forced script re-write. Furthermore, a double was used to accomplish this.
Melissa Barrera To ALISHA WEIR
Joey is in charge of the little girl who we now know is Abigail (Alisha Weir (Don’t Leave Home [2018]) and of course nothing is what it seems. First Dean’s head is decapitated, and Rickles face was mauled (we don’t see those kills). Soon the group come across Dean and realize they’re dealing with something and while they’re arguing in Abilgail’s room they realize she’s really a vampire when she gets out of her handcuffs. They run and decide to try and kill her except for Joey and of course they come back injured. Joey comes up with the idea of using the other vile to put Abigail to sleep once more, she wakes up in a sort of jail cell room. It is here, the larger true plot of film opens, with Abigail revealing to the group their real names and their backstories for example, Lambert works for Abigail and she was the real organizer of the supposed money which was a ploy; they were just food for her. Soon she bursts out of the jail, and the others disperse but then Sammy turns into a vampire and is controlled by Abigail and kills Peter.
There are now just two remaining suddenly Lambert reappears as a vampire too, and wants revenge on Abigail and her father, in the process turns Frank into fanged beast. Frank, discovers an incredible amount of vampiric power, though not truly understanding how the undead rules he attacks in rage rather than cunning. Abigail and Joey kill Frank, although Abigail’s father, Kristof Lazar (Matthew Goode (Silent Night [2021])) shows up to help his daughter amid all the bloodshed. She implores her father to have mercy on Joey. Does he listen?
Melissa Barrera
Abigail is definitely a more modern take on the vampire lore of movies and at times a bit slow moving. I stated it does have gore, but you don’t see all of the vampire killings which is disappointing. Another thing is that the typical things that kill vampires, garlic, stake, cross don’t work here and I thought the light would have and it does hurt Abigail but not for long so the vampire lore is different here. I also think that all of the “F” bombs weren’t necessary or course they’re needed sometimes but at times that’s all Frank would use. All the twists in the movie were good, and I did enjoy watching it with my husband when I first saw the film and he was so relived it was nothing like Twilight, but he did really like the house. If you’re looking to watch a bloodsucking film I would recommend it even though most of the killing isn’t until the second act.
TAGLINE:
- Children can be such monsters.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27489557/
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
3C Rating: 6.5/10