About the film (courtesy of Universal Pictures):
Children can be such monsters. After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking duo behind the recent Scream hits and the cult classic Ready or Not (2019), have sunk their teeth into the vampire genre with Abigail. This thrilling and surprisingly solid film delivers biting humor, relentless action, and a deliciously subversive twist on familiar horror tropes.

The film opens with a motley crew of criminals executing a high-stakes plan: kidnap the young daughter of a powerful underworld kingpin and hold her for ransom. They choose Abigail, a seemingly innocent 12-year-old ballerina, as their target. But when they retreat to a remote mansion, the criminals quickly discover they’ve trapped themselves with something far more dangerous than they could have ever anticipated. And so begins the fun.

Alisha Weir is captivating as the titular character, effortlessly shifting between an air of childlike vulnerability to the feral hunger of a true predator. As the body count rises, she commands the screen with chilling intensity. Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, William Catlett, and the late Angus Cloud form a dysfunctional group of kidnappers, each hiding their own agendas and insecurities. Their desperate attempts to control the situation, and Abigail, provide moments of twisted humor that cut through the film’s mounting tension.

Abigail succeeds, however, by refusing to be straightforward. This isn’t just another ‘good vs. evil’ bloodbath. Abigail herself is a complex character, blurring the lines between victim and monster. The film digs into the themes of legacy, family, and the monstrous nature that can exist even within those who seem most innocent.

Visually, Abigail is a stylish feast. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett bathe the film in rich shadows and bursts of vivid color, mirroring the duality of Abigail’s nature. The action sequences are fun, sometimes shocking and surprisingly brutal, expertly choreographed to turn the film’s well-to-do settings into chaotic battlegrounds (kind of like what was done in Ready or Not).

While Abigail certainly embraces its bloody horror roots, the film’s heart lies in the unexpected relationships that develop. The interactions between Abigail and her captors are fraught with tension but also reveal unexpected moments of compassion and connection. This isn’t a film about easy answers; rather, it thrives in the gray areas of human morality, along with a healthy dose of blood baths.

Abigail is a refreshingly bold take on the vampire myth. It blends sharp humor, relentless action, and genuine emotional depth, providing a darkly satisfying cinematic experience. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett continue to prove themselves as masters of the genre, and Alisha Weir makes a chilling and captivating debut as a horror icon in the making. If you’re a fan of suspenseful thrills that dare to go beyond the usual, Abigail is a must-see.

Check it out exclusively in theaters starting this Friday.