ABIGAIL: Movie Review

With their 2019 film Ready or Not, directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin cemented their names as some of the most fascinating, crowd-pleasing, and contemporary horror voices working in Hollywood. Their style and confidence with that film was so salient that the duo went on to helm high-profile films Scream and Scream VI. Although they have exited the Scream franchise for now, their latest film Abigail confirms that this duo doesn’t need a franchise to shine bright. This twisty, gory, and very smart vampire film is a testament to Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin’s ability to take even the most seemingly cheesy storylines and make them feel cinematically elevated in a way that is surprising yet unpretentiously indulgent. Ultimately, Abigail does not match the smarts of Ready or Not, but it’s still an enthrallingly pacey and cleverly directed movie that gleams with serious horror movie intellect. Look out for the interesting ways that Abigail winks at its audience, turning its narrative into something that somehow manages to feel equally intense and playful.

The ensemble cast of Abigail is surprisingly strong, with major names like Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, and Giancarlo Esposito in leading roles. Barrera, who made her high-profile exit from the Scream franchise along with the directors of the film, shines as Joey, a reluctant kidnapper who makes an unexpected promise that leads her to question her own morality. Additionally, Dan Stevens and Kathryn Newton also stand out in dynamic roles that are amusing and surprising. It’s also worth mentioning that this is Angus Cloud’s final film role and even with a limited turn, it’s clear to see the talent that the performer possessed. Additionally, the film is incomplete without its young star Alisha Weir as Abigail, a child who is unexpectedly kidnapped and appears to have some dangerous parental links…and more.

Abigail works as well as it does because it’s clear that the writing for the film comes from a place of conviction; the script is just as sincere in its moments of emotion and humor as it is in the action-packed horror sequences. Writers Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, alongside directors Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin, understand the structure of their narrative extremely well and the film is crafted in an intelligent and stylized way, without taking away from the indulgence of the storyline. Despite its various twists and turns, Abigail finds moments of unexpected emotion and humor, and also doesn’t hold back from the excessiveness required to make the film feel visceral. All in all, Abigail is one of the most crowd-pleasing, popcorn horror blockbusters in quite some time.