Every year we seem to get a horror that gains a cult following and this year that title definitely goes to ‘Abigail’. It’s a simple set-up but one that yields high rewards, with a fantastic ensemble that all bring their A-game to the table. With a brilliant leading turn from Alisha Weir, a sharp script from Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, and directed in a gleefully gory way by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, ‘Abigail’ is one of the most fun and entertaining horrors we’ve seen for some time.
The premise is simple but great – a group of hapless criminals stupidly decide to kidnap the young ballerina daughter of a huge criminal underworld boss and hold her to ransom. But whilst they wait for their demands to be met in an isolated mansion, it becomes clear that Abigail is no ordinary little girl.
It’s great to see Melissa Barrera back leading a major horror franchise. She has a great scene presence and captivates whenever she’s onscreen. Her role of Joey, a mysterious former medic who clearly doesn’t belong in this kind of a set-up, gives the movie a sharp cutting edge, making her more than just a token final girl. It’s a great performance from an actress who deserves to be on that next level.
Kathryn Newton is hilarious as a spoilt valley girl who is voluntarily in this mess just for the kicks. As Sammy, a hacker extraordinaire, she is front and centre of a lot of the best character exchanges – especially with Kevin Durand’s character Peter. Durand shows a rare comedic side in ‘Abigail’ and absolutely steals his scenes as the hired muscle of the crew.
Dan Stevens is clearly having a lot of fun in this movie and is a joy to watch. The mysterious Frank is a hard-to-read character, but Stevens does a brilliant job as the makeshift leader of this crew, and a man who has more than a few hidden secrets to unearth. William Catlett is solid as sniper and lookout man Rickles, whilst the ever-reliable Giancarlo Esposito continues this trend in a very effective role as Lambert, the man who has put this whole scheme into play. Matthew Goode is superb in a small but very entertaining cameo too.
The late Angus Cloud makes one of his last onscreen appearances in ‘Abigail’ and showcases what a promising young talent he was in Hollywood. His role as Dean, a deadbeat low-level criminal and wheelman for this motley crew of kidnappers, gives the film its first spark of genuine comedy. It’s a beat-perfect performance, and he’s also responsible for one of the best jump scares in the movie too.
Whilst this is very much an ensemble movie, young Alisha Weir carries a lot of the film’s weight and does remarkable well as Abigail. Her performance is pitch perfect, from the early rumblings of an innocent child caught up in a horrific situation, to being the actual horrific situation herself. This could have been a throwaway role in the wrong hands, but Weir adds a depth and playful malevolence to the role that will earmark ‘Abigail’ as one of modern horror’s most enduring new characters, joining the likes of ‘M3GAN’, ‘Annabelle’, ‘Maxine’ and ‘Ma’.
Gloriously gory and hilariously funny, ‘Abigail’ is a brilliant, fun ride that frequently hits its marks. It has a great cast who all deliver, solid characterisation (something of a rarity in horror these days) and 18-certificate frights that don’t scrimp on the blood and guts. All in, ‘Abigail’ is one of the year’s best horrors and a very entertaining night out at the movies, especially with a group of mates and lots of snacks. Fangtastic.
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Goode Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett Writer: Stephen Shields, Guy Busick Certificate: 18 Duration: 109 mins Released by: Universal Release date: 19th April 2024
