Children can be such monsters.
Children can be such monsters.
The Radio Silence team, with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, prove they’ve still got it with their latest effort, Abigail, a bloody vampire flick with lots of laughs and thrills. While not the most revolutionary of concepts, the film still feels fresh in ways and keeps you engaged throughout its nearly 2-hour runtime. With skillfully crafted tension, a gifted cast and an eerie atmosphere, Abigail is a tremendously entertaining experience, especially in a theatre setting.
A babysitting challenge gone wrong, Abigail introduces a group of criminals hired to kidnap the daughter of a powerful underworld figure for a $50 million ransom. All they’re required to do is watch the young girl for 24 hours in an isolated mansion while they wait to collect the funds from her father. Things begin to unravel when the captors start disappearing one by one and realize the tutu-wearing 12-year-old is anything but ordinary.
Abigail contains the perfect ratio of suspense, comedy and scares, delivering an enticing premise that’s not overly convoluted. The film takes its time fleshing out the central characters before jumping into the non-stop action. While the humour was mostly spot-on, a few instances of dialogue felt forced with characters explaining situations to the audience which weren’t necessary. Still, once things pick up Abigail becomes a crowd-pleaser with funny one-liners and you can tell Radio Silence is at the helm. (Who else picked up on some lines reused from Scream (2022)?) A few elements don’t always pan out, like a mother/son subplot and introducing a character in the final moments. However, the film still surpasses expectations right up to its energetic final showdown.
The star-studded cast excels in Abigail, with each member bringing unique qualities to the table. Melissa Barrera reunites with Radio Silence after the success of their Scream films and she once again shines in the lead role. Presenting a mix of innocence and perseverance, you’ll root for her as she fights for survival against the dancing vampire. Along with Barrera, fellow scream queen Kathryn Newton captivates audiences with her ditzy charm. She displayed the emotions of fear brilliantly while also lightening the mood and I kept thinking of her as the Helen to Melissa’s Julie. After her performance in Lisa Frankenstein earlier this year and now Abigail she’s becoming one to watch for in the horror genre. (Also, was it just me or did she look like a blood-thirsty version of Miley Cyrus at one point?) The male actors also excel in the film and respect must be given to the late Angus Cloud who fully committed to his final role (RIP). Amongst the cast, the film’s standout star is Alisha Weir, a scene-stealer as the young Abigail. Her distinguished performance, transforming from an innocent young girl to a murderous menace showcases her immense talent. Weir is given a handful of creative kills to execute and it’s riveting to watch as she “plays with her food”. The chemistry amongst the cast makes every interaction compelling.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to their Ready or Not roots and offer an atmospheric mansion setting that enhances the stakes for the characters trapped within. As the plot unfolds, the use of the house and its different rooms are explored imaginatively which keeps audiences guessing what’s around each corner. The setting adds to the claustrophobic feel and becomes a spooky playground for fun chase and action sequences. Fight choreography, especially with scenes involving Weir, Barrera and Dan Stevens is intense and heart-pounding. Like Ready or Not, the special effects and gore are heightened to a campy level making things feel light-hearted while also being horrific.
Radio Silence once again demonstrate their abilities and establish themselves as one of the most promising filmmaking teams for the horror genre. Abigail is a rip-roaring blood bath that knows exactly when to up the camp and gore. Sure, some minor elements could have been further fleshed out but still, we’re gifted with a highly entertaining feature about a killer ballerina that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s an all-out blast and a sensational piece of horror cinema that will have you laughing and screaming.
