443 reviews
This is an entertaining horror movie with comedic elements sprinkled throughout it and everyone in the cast does a pretty good job with the parts they're given but Dan Stevens kills it, he steals the show in every scene he's in, killer lines and he's so damn funny you can't help but laugh. The movie is nothing you haven't seen before but even with that in mind it still manages to surprise you and be unpredictable at times with different twists and turns in the story.
Overall it was a solid experience and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking to grab a cold one, kick back and get some popcorn.
Overall it was a solid experience and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking to grab a cold one, kick back and get some popcorn.
- cyrax-92742
- May 8, 2024
- Permalink
- sub780lime
- Jul 6, 2024
- Permalink
There is nothing in this film that you haven't seen in a number of other films but it manages, thankfully, to deliver.
It doesn't for my money have as much humour as Ready or Not but does have enough character back story for the audience to know who to support and who to scorn and to emotionally commit to ( as much as you can in a horror flick).
You know what is going to happen once the basic premise is exposed and it's fun finding out how and when, and watching the whole thing play out.
At the centre of it all is Abigail, played expertly and delightfully by Alisha Weir who exploits this platform to showcase her undoubted talent. She is ably supported by the cast to realise this competent effort and make viewing it time well spent.
I believe the film is best watched without prior exposure to the trailer, hard as that is these days, and have also not revealed any content here in that spirit. Enjoy the film.
It doesn't for my money have as much humour as Ready or Not but does have enough character back story for the audience to know who to support and who to scorn and to emotionally commit to ( as much as you can in a horror flick).
You know what is going to happen once the basic premise is exposed and it's fun finding out how and when, and watching the whole thing play out.
At the centre of it all is Abigail, played expertly and delightfully by Alisha Weir who exploits this platform to showcase her undoubted talent. She is ably supported by the cast to realise this competent effort and make viewing it time well spent.
I believe the film is best watched without prior exposure to the trailer, hard as that is these days, and have also not revealed any content here in that spirit. Enjoy the film.
- HerbieStretch
- Apr 18, 2024
- Permalink
A mixed group of criminals kidnap Abigail, a young ballerina, and daughter of a powerful business mogul. The gang think they're coming into millions, but Abigail has a shocking surprise waiting for them.
One of the horror highlights of 2024 so far, it's done well at The Box Office, and it's easy to understand why, it's definitely a crowd pleaser.
A seemingly straightforward thriller very rapidly turns into a genre crossing horror movie. Abigail is a real mix of styles, it's goofy, it's funny, it's well paced, and of course there are plenty of jump scares.
Very nicely made, well shot, with some good music, which surprisingly doesn't become too intrusive.
You really can't fault any of the performances, credit very much to that young Alisha Weir, excellent as the title character. Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens are both good, but Weir steals the show.
A cheeky And then there were none reference too.
7/10.
One of the horror highlights of 2024 so far, it's done well at The Box Office, and it's easy to understand why, it's definitely a crowd pleaser.
A seemingly straightforward thriller very rapidly turns into a genre crossing horror movie. Abigail is a real mix of styles, it's goofy, it's funny, it's well paced, and of course there are plenty of jump scares.
Very nicely made, well shot, with some good music, which surprisingly doesn't become too intrusive.
You really can't fault any of the performances, credit very much to that young Alisha Weir, excellent as the title character. Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens are both good, but Weir steals the show.
A cheeky And then there were none reference too.
7/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- May 7, 2024
- Permalink
If is rare for a horror movie to give away it's twist in its trailer. And still rarer to hold your interest, after the aforementioned cardinal sin, for almost its entire length, because of the vivid characters, their banter and their gory endings.
The producers of Abigail did the first sacrilege before its release, leading to it crashing at the hustings.
The director and the script writers nearly pulled off a miracle by still making a gripping thriller, which looses some steam right at the very end.
This is an even- toned film. It maintains its momentum and its editing doesn't let the speed flag down. The last 20 minutes are slightly convoluted as if the writers couldn't think of a way to end it.
Liked it. Had the potential to be a real classic.
The producers of Abigail did the first sacrilege before its release, leading to it crashing at the hustings.
The director and the script writers nearly pulled off a miracle by still making a gripping thriller, which looses some steam right at the very end.
This is an even- toned film. It maintains its momentum and its editing doesn't let the speed flag down. The last 20 minutes are slightly convoluted as if the writers couldn't think of a way to end it.
Liked it. Had the potential to be a real classic.
- ragingbull_2005
- May 18, 2024
- Permalink
- planetvibz
- Aug 24, 2024
- Permalink
- XpringlefaceX
- Apr 23, 2024
- Permalink
Plot
After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they're locked inside with no normal little girl.
Cast
Alisha Weir knocks it out of the park with her performance, Melissa Barrera is solid, Kevin Durand is excellent as always and Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton and Giancarlo Esposito are er also there.
Verdict
I don't go the cinema often, usually this is because of limited time, inevitable disappointment and the ridiculous expense involved. The missus wanted to see this so I made an exception, I was right about the expense as it came to just over £50 which is lunacy for a 90 minute presentation and don't even get me started on how many adverts I had to endure (And I don't mean trailers).
But did I at least least enjoy the film? Well, yeah I really did. Alas this is certainly a movie where a person would be better off not watching the trailer, knowing the big twist straight out of the gate certainly damaged the film but it was so good and threw so many additional curveballs it just didn't matter.
A solid cast (I'm a Durand fanboy) including a child actress who absolutely nailed her role to unexpected levels, a decent budget, great setting, decent cinematography and dare I say some levels of originality Abigail was an unexpectedly good film and everything I wanted M3gan (2022) to be.
See I've slated Hollywood horror for years claiming they've lost their way but movies like this demonstrate all hope is not lost.
Gory, over the top yet fairly smart and fantastically executed Abigail is a solid horror film.
Rants
Poor Barrera, glad to see she's having a decent career post her ridiculous firing from the Scream series. Who'd have thought that being against genocide is a bad thing and a person could get fired over having that stance? Plenty in support of it are doing just fine. What a time to be alive!
The Good
Barrera, Durand and Weir Sufficiently gory Very well constructed Barrels of fun Plenty of twists to keep you entertained
The Bad
I feel the finale could have been handled a smidge better Newton didn't seem on form.
After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they're locked inside with no normal little girl.
Cast
Alisha Weir knocks it out of the park with her performance, Melissa Barrera is solid, Kevin Durand is excellent as always and Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton and Giancarlo Esposito are er also there.
Verdict
I don't go the cinema often, usually this is because of limited time, inevitable disappointment and the ridiculous expense involved. The missus wanted to see this so I made an exception, I was right about the expense as it came to just over £50 which is lunacy for a 90 minute presentation and don't even get me started on how many adverts I had to endure (And I don't mean trailers).
But did I at least least enjoy the film? Well, yeah I really did. Alas this is certainly a movie where a person would be better off not watching the trailer, knowing the big twist straight out of the gate certainly damaged the film but it was so good and threw so many additional curveballs it just didn't matter.
A solid cast (I'm a Durand fanboy) including a child actress who absolutely nailed her role to unexpected levels, a decent budget, great setting, decent cinematography and dare I say some levels of originality Abigail was an unexpectedly good film and everything I wanted M3gan (2022) to be.
See I've slated Hollywood horror for years claiming they've lost their way but movies like this demonstrate all hope is not lost.
Gory, over the top yet fairly smart and fantastically executed Abigail is a solid horror film.
Rants
Poor Barrera, glad to see she's having a decent career post her ridiculous firing from the Scream series. Who'd have thought that being against genocide is a bad thing and a person could get fired over having that stance? Plenty in support of it are doing just fine. What a time to be alive!
The Good
Barrera, Durand and Weir Sufficiently gory Very well constructed Barrels of fun Plenty of twists to keep you entertained
The Bad
I feel the finale could have been handled a smidge better Newton didn't seem on form.
- Platypuschow
- Apr 21, 2024
- Permalink
This is fun - almost in the style of Hammer. It's gory, but not scary. A clichéd plot and characters, but directed and acted with enthusiasm, and a good nod to classic vampire films. All the references were there, we were just missing Vincent Price and Christopher Lee and an over-coloured palette.
There was a tongue in cheek patina right across the film. I'm not sure why it was rated 18 in the UK - unless to protect people with an aversion to tomato sauce. The gore was done with explosive fun - a real splat fest.
This was surprisingly entertaining, done with gusto. Absolutely worth 90 minutes.
There was a tongue in cheek patina right across the film. I'm not sure why it was rated 18 in the UK - unless to protect people with an aversion to tomato sauce. The gore was done with explosive fun - a real splat fest.
This was surprisingly entertaining, done with gusto. Absolutely worth 90 minutes.
From the directors of Ready or Not comes this boring nothingness.
A Dracula spinoff or some vampire movie one off either way, I do not care. Abigail is about as horrifying and thrilling as this tired out genre continues to be.
Boring jump scares, typical boring a** hole characters that are neither interesting nor likable but I'm sure they're not meant to be or at least I hope not. There's a good cast here, but their material isn't.
The story for this poor excuse of a vampire movie is as boring as its characters. There's just nothing here! Sure, there's action, but action means nothing when you don't care for the characters in it.
I originally had no intention of watching this film, but my desire to see my celebrity crush (Kathyrn Newton) got the better of me.
Anyway, if you can turn your brain off, then I'm sure there's enjoyment to be had from this Dracula/vampire movie thing or whatever it's supposed to be.
IMDb: 3/10 Letterboxd: 2/5
Watched in Theaters.
A Dracula spinoff or some vampire movie one off either way, I do not care. Abigail is about as horrifying and thrilling as this tired out genre continues to be.
Boring jump scares, typical boring a** hole characters that are neither interesting nor likable but I'm sure they're not meant to be or at least I hope not. There's a good cast here, but their material isn't.
The story for this poor excuse of a vampire movie is as boring as its characters. There's just nothing here! Sure, there's action, but action means nothing when you don't care for the characters in it.
I originally had no intention of watching this film, but my desire to see my celebrity crush (Kathyrn Newton) got the better of me.
Anyway, if you can turn your brain off, then I'm sure there's enjoyment to be had from this Dracula/vampire movie thing or whatever it's supposed to be.
IMDb: 3/10 Letterboxd: 2/5
Watched in Theaters.
- vengeance20
- Apr 18, 2024
- Permalink
I saw Abigail this weekend. I was especially excited for this film since Ready or Not is one of my favorite films, and this is from the same directing team of Radio Silence and had a similar look. Although I really enjoyed it, there is absolutely no taking Ready or Not's crown.
First of all, I cannot begin to tell you how exponentially better this film would be if the trailers hadn't given away its main conceit. Given how the movie was advertised, I assumed it would be revealed in the film right away. However the movie treats it like a mystery, and isn't revealed until almost an hour in. I can't imagine how entertaining it would have been to be legitimately surprised (if somehow you haven't seen the trailer, DON'T). Secondly it's a super small cast, so every personality matters. Based on the reviews I've seen, I'm obviously in the minority, but I absolutely couldn't stand Dan Stevens in this film. I've seen and read so many reviews talking about how entertaining he was in this and Godzilla X Kong, and I found him terribly obnoxious in both. I don't get the appeal, but I'm missing something.
Thankfully there were stand outs like Angus Cloud (RIP), Kevin Durand as the not so bright Canadian Muscle and especially Alisha Weir who is an Absolute ROCK STAR as Abigail. She is already so, so good, especially as a young actress.
This film is tremendously bloody, so not for the faint of heart. Unrelated to the film, but there was a 9 year old girl at the screening with her parents holding a stuffed animal while watching it, which was definitely an eye-opener.
First of all, I cannot begin to tell you how exponentially better this film would be if the trailers hadn't given away its main conceit. Given how the movie was advertised, I assumed it would be revealed in the film right away. However the movie treats it like a mystery, and isn't revealed until almost an hour in. I can't imagine how entertaining it would have been to be legitimately surprised (if somehow you haven't seen the trailer, DON'T). Secondly it's a super small cast, so every personality matters. Based on the reviews I've seen, I'm obviously in the minority, but I absolutely couldn't stand Dan Stevens in this film. I've seen and read so many reviews talking about how entertaining he was in this and Godzilla X Kong, and I found him terribly obnoxious in both. I don't get the appeal, but I'm missing something.
Thankfully there were stand outs like Angus Cloud (RIP), Kevin Durand as the not so bright Canadian Muscle and especially Alisha Weir who is an Absolute ROCK STAR as Abigail. She is already so, so good, especially as a young actress.
This film is tremendously bloody, so not for the faint of heart. Unrelated to the film, but there was a 9 year old girl at the screening with her parents holding a stuffed animal while watching it, which was definitely an eye-opener.
Just from the trailers alone I was so excited to see this! And thankfully, it delivers!
Abigail is funny, gory and packed full with a brilliant cast such as Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton and Kevin Durand.
Radio silence have given us another great horror film that adds to their already impressive resume (READY OR NOT & SCREAM)
2024 is shaping up to be an amazing year for horror.
Abigail is played by Alisha Weir who you may have seen in the movie musical Matilda. She is the standout of this film. She nails the comedy moments, ballerina stunts and acting as the sweet and innocent victim throughout the start of the film.
Abigail is also the last film to include Angus Cloud, R. I. P.
Abigail is funny, gory and packed full with a brilliant cast such as Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton and Kevin Durand.
Radio silence have given us another great horror film that adds to their already impressive resume (READY OR NOT & SCREAM)
2024 is shaping up to be an amazing year for horror.
Abigail is played by Alisha Weir who you may have seen in the movie musical Matilda. She is the standout of this film. She nails the comedy moments, ballerina stunts and acting as the sweet and innocent victim throughout the start of the film.
Abigail is also the last film to include Angus Cloud, R. I. P.
- liamlovesmovies_
- Apr 13, 2024
- Permalink
Everything in this movie is mediocre except the cinematography and the production design. I was looking forward to this due to me really liking Radio Silence's 'Ready or Not'. I was hoping for a fun horror comedy akin to that, but 'Abigail' ended up being as frustrating and obnoxious as their 2 'Scream' movies. It was however, better than 'Scream 5', but that's not saying much.
The acting all round is pretty bad. Dan Stevens is hamming it up, Melissa Barrera is a blank slate, but the worst performance by a mile is from Kathryne Newtown. Newtown has been bad in everything I've seen her in ('Detective Pikachu', the 'Death Note' remake), but here she's impressively awful, she can't even scream convincingly. The little girl is good for a child actress, but her dialogue is embarrassing lazy and stilted. She's the exact same kind of "toying with her victims" villain we've seen a million times before, now just in child form.
There are TWO 3-minute exposition scenes in this movie where a character just stops the film dead in its tracks, and explains everyone's backstory. It wouldn't be as unbearable if these characters weren't stock and unlikeable, but not one of them has an interesting backstory, so wasting this time trying to "flesh them out" ends up being a complete, cliched waste. Theres even a gag where the big "muscle" character screams like a little girl, as if we haven't seen that joke a million times before...
There were no engaging twists or revelations, and the characters were impossibly stupid. Unlike 'Ready or Not', where the lead character makes smart decisions, and the villains only make idiotic decisions because that's core to their character, the group in 'Abigail' are "professionals" who only make moronic decisions to further the contrived plot.
One aspect that surprised me was how many loud and amateur jump-scares there were. None of them were effective, and the editing is akin to something you'd expect from a horror short on YouTube. The sound design is particularly egregious and insistent, and all but one of the needle drops are total cringe. There's no moments of tension or thrill. I doubt even a 12 year old would find any of this scary.
It even uses the same exploding-bodies trick from 'Ready or Not', but in a much dumber and unsatisfying way. It even ends in the same way, with one character saying pretty much the exact same thing as Samara Weaving in 'Ready or Not'. It's just them playing the hits from their one good movie. There's not an original bone in this movie, despite it clearly insisting that it's some fresh, slick new take on vampires.
I've seen a lot of stuff these two directors have done, including their sections in 'Southbound' and 'V/H/S', and it's clear that Gillet and Bettinelli-Olpin only have one good movie in them, and that's mostly due to the fact that the premise in 'Ready or Not' is really hard to screw up. I don't ask for much, I've seen tonnes of tiny budget, straight-to-streaming comedy horrors that are far more inventive, funny and transgressive than this forgettable chore.
The acting all round is pretty bad. Dan Stevens is hamming it up, Melissa Barrera is a blank slate, but the worst performance by a mile is from Kathryne Newtown. Newtown has been bad in everything I've seen her in ('Detective Pikachu', the 'Death Note' remake), but here she's impressively awful, she can't even scream convincingly. The little girl is good for a child actress, but her dialogue is embarrassing lazy and stilted. She's the exact same kind of "toying with her victims" villain we've seen a million times before, now just in child form.
There are TWO 3-minute exposition scenes in this movie where a character just stops the film dead in its tracks, and explains everyone's backstory. It wouldn't be as unbearable if these characters weren't stock and unlikeable, but not one of them has an interesting backstory, so wasting this time trying to "flesh them out" ends up being a complete, cliched waste. Theres even a gag where the big "muscle" character screams like a little girl, as if we haven't seen that joke a million times before...
There were no engaging twists or revelations, and the characters were impossibly stupid. Unlike 'Ready or Not', where the lead character makes smart decisions, and the villains only make idiotic decisions because that's core to their character, the group in 'Abigail' are "professionals" who only make moronic decisions to further the contrived plot.
One aspect that surprised me was how many loud and amateur jump-scares there were. None of them were effective, and the editing is akin to something you'd expect from a horror short on YouTube. The sound design is particularly egregious and insistent, and all but one of the needle drops are total cringe. There's no moments of tension or thrill. I doubt even a 12 year old would find any of this scary.
It even uses the same exploding-bodies trick from 'Ready or Not', but in a much dumber and unsatisfying way. It even ends in the same way, with one character saying pretty much the exact same thing as Samara Weaving in 'Ready or Not'. It's just them playing the hits from their one good movie. There's not an original bone in this movie, despite it clearly insisting that it's some fresh, slick new take on vampires.
I've seen a lot of stuff these two directors have done, including their sections in 'Southbound' and 'V/H/S', and it's clear that Gillet and Bettinelli-Olpin only have one good movie in them, and that's mostly due to the fact that the premise in 'Ready or Not' is really hard to screw up. I don't ask for much, I've seen tonnes of tiny budget, straight-to-streaming comedy horrors that are far more inventive, funny and transgressive than this forgettable chore.
- knoxfan2008
- Apr 22, 2024
- Permalink
If you don't know anything about the movie I wouldn't read anything about it and just watch it to experience it better. I immediately had to think of Quentin Tarantino's From Dusk Till Dawn, another movie with a similar story that surprises you when you watch it without any knowledge. Personally I think Abigail as the title for the movie wasn't a good choice. It kinda gives it away, that the girl is special. Still I did enjoy it. Believable actors, even the little Alisha Weir that I found better as the evil kid than the 'normal' kid. Nice job with the creepy scenes, credits to the make-up artists.
- deloudelouvain
- May 14, 2024
- Permalink
Enjoyable a day later, but on release as I was watching the movie, I kept expecting more. Some kind of twist and even a possible movie connecting during the ending. But alas, the movie is exactly what you see in the trailer. As a matter of fact, it's mostly what you see in the trailer. No surprises, no extra moments (except a very small surprise towards the end), just what you see is what you get.
I definitely did run a bit longer, I think they cut out that opening segmented and just start right away. It's Worth a watch if you have a season pass of some sort, but I wouldn't go out of my way compared to some others.
I definitely did run a bit longer, I think they cut out that opening segmented and just start right away. It's Worth a watch if you have a season pass of some sort, but I wouldn't go out of my way compared to some others.
- HarlequinKitty
- Apr 19, 2024
- Permalink
- salza-anton
- May 8, 2024
- Permalink
- PerryAtTheMovies
- Apr 19, 2024
- Permalink
- BA_Harrison
- Apr 18, 2024
- Permalink
- Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews
- Apr 18, 2024
- Permalink