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Film: Abigail
Year: 2024
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
Writers: Stephen Shields and Guy Busick
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens and Alisha Weir
Review:
This was a movie that I saw was coming to the Gateway Film Center and I was intrigued. It has a solid cast with Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand and Giancarlo Esposito. I also like our directing team from Ready or Not and Scream from a couple years ago. I saw too much of the trailer which gives the reveal. It was also all over the Internet Movie Database site. This would have been more fun if it wasn’t spoiled, but I digress.
Synopsis: after a group of criminals kidnap the ballet dancer daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.
We start this off with good filmmaking. The team of criminals are getting into place. Joey (Barrera) is picked up by Peter (Durand) and Frank (Stevens). Another team is at the destination. Rickles (William Catlett) has a sniper rifle; he’s watching the house. The getaway driver is Dean (Angus Cloud) and Sammy (Newton) bringing down the security system. The target is Abigail (Alisha Weir) who is practicing. They are waiting for her to come home.
Their plan goes on without issue. They take her to the remote mansion that is creepy. She is taken up to a room with a blindfold on and handcuffed. At the place, they’re met by Lambert (Esposito) who wants them to stay on guard. They need to hold her for ransom for 24 hours. There is food and drinks stocked for them.
Now the only one who comes in to see and talk to her is Joey. She calms the girl and even makes it more comfortable for her. She removes the blindfold and handcuffs her in the front. Joey does wear a mask. This group isn’t supposed to share personal information, but while they are having drinks and playing games, Dean tries to guess everyone’s backgrounds. Joey points out that he’s wrong and then she guesses everyone correctly. Frank reveals a dark secret about her.
Abigail has one of her own as she alludes to her father being powerful. Joey doesn’t want to know, but she tells Frank about her concern. He goes into her room for information, not realizing that she isn’t blindfolded anymore. This is just the start of fear he has. She reveals to him who her father is. He’s ready to leave and give up his cut of the money. That isn’t as easy as he thinks as Abigail has an even darker secret of her own.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start with a movie that I saw praise being given to from voices in the community that I respect. It was interesting as well because it was from professionals and other podcasters. That made me excited to give this a watch. What I’ll say here is that this is a popcorn movie. We have a good premise where we strand a group with something that is faster, stronger and more deadly than them. We then show them fighting for their life.
Something to then bring up was that a buddy in a group chat said this feels like Ready or Not. Seeing that the directors of that helmed this, makes sense. We have a large mansion where are characters are looking around for whatever is killing them. These are also professional criminals. Rickles is a former marine. Peter is muscle. Frank was a former detective. It turns out Joey was in the army. Sammy is good with computers, which doesn’t play here. Dean is the only non-professional, but he’s a great wheelman from what we see. I’m a fan of playing with the idea of going up against something that is too much for people that are better equipped. I’ll also say that I love the isolated setting and trapping the characters inside. That reminded me of Demons and its sequel.
The next bit is something that I’m going to go vague as I won’t spoil what Abigail is. I’m guessing that anyone reading this knows though. What I’ll say is that she’s a creature. I do like how they manage the lore here. Joey knows what she is first. Sammy saw what this thing could do but doesn’t believe it. Rickles and Frank know that something is wrong and it doesn’t make sense. Peter refuses to believe. I love that everyone tosses out what they know and they use these elements. I’m a fan when something with established lore is used and then a movie gives what their rules are. I also love the look as well.
I think then I’ll shift to acting next. I’ll say again that we have a good cast here. Barrera is fine as our lead. She doesn’t necessarily stand out to me though. Not bad by any stretch though either. Stevens was good as this detective turned criminal. I love that his back-story is muddled. Catlett is good as this former marine. I like Newton as a rich girl who decided to do crime for the thrill. Durand is funny as this big dumb muscle. Cloud adds levity with being a street criminal who is good at what he does. I like Weir in her role. The use of ballet dancing adds an interesting element. This is something that is beautiful and graceful while combining it with the brutal. I like that dichotomy. Other than that, I like the cameo by Esposito and Matthew Goode as well.
All that is left then is filmmaking. I thought that the cinematography was good to capture this location and bring it to life. The isolated location and not being able to get out raises tension. Then having something hunt our characters builds even more. I thought that the attacks were framed well. This is a combination of CGI and practical effects from what I could tell. I don’t love the former, but this had a budget so it doesn’t look bad. What is intriguing is that an effect from Ready or Not was brought over here with exploding bodies. That ramps up the gore. Other than that, I love the classical music used, especially when Abigail is dancing. That makes it even more eerie with what happens from there. No issues here.
In conclusion, I thought this was a solid movie that I enjoyed my time with. This isn’t doing anything new necessarily. There are good elements like using something that is tender like ballet dancing and having vicious attacks works for me. We have a solid cast here. This is well-made. I thought the setting, cinematography, framing and the music were good. If I have nitpicked, it is with the computer effects. Doesn’t ruin this by any stretch though. I’d say to give this one a watch. I had fun watching this one.
My Rating: 7 out of 10