Taglines: Children can be such monsters.
Abigail tells the story of a group of criminals looking to nab a $50 million ransom by kidnapping a 12-year-old girl with a love of ballet. All they have to do is watch the kid in a mansion overnight and, once morning arrives, everyone gets rich. Easy, right? Well, it turns out the girl is more than meets the eye — she’s an immortal vampire who doesn’t take kindly to her abduction.
Abigail is an American monster horror film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett from a screenplay written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick. Based on and a reimagining of the 1936 Universal Classic Monsters film Dracula’s Daughter, the film stars Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud (in a posthumous film appearance), and Giancarlo Esposito. Abigail was released by Universal Pictures on April 19, 2024.
The legacy of Universal’s Dark Universe, though truncated, finds a hopeful resurgence with the upcoming horror movie, “Abigail.” Helmed by Radio Silence and featuring Melissa Barrera in the cast, this mysterious Universal Monsters installment has piqued curiosity since its early days as the “Untitled Universal Monsters Movie.” With the official title revealed and the first trailer released, it’s time to unravel the secrets surrounding “Abigail.”
Before delving into the details of “Abigail,” it’s crucial to acknowledge Radio Silence, the creative force behind the film. Known for their innovative storytelling and impactful contributions to the horror genre, Radio Silence has set the stage for an intriguing take on the Universal Monsters lore. As pioneers in reshaping traditional horror narratives, their involvement raises anticipation for a unique and refreshing cinematic experience.
About the Story
In New York City, young ballet dancer Abigail is abducted by six criminals and taken to the secluded Wilhelm Manor. Before leaving, their leader Lambert instructs them to guard Abigail for 24 hours, at which point they will receive an equal share of a $50 million ransom paid by her father. Using fake names to avoid any member from identifying the others, the group consists of former Army medic and recovering drug addict Joey, former NYPD detective Frank, thrill-seeking hacker Sammy, former Marine sniper Rickles, dimwitted mob enforcer Peter, and sociopathic driver Dean.
Though reluctant to continue with the plan as she was unaware the target was a child, Joey is tasked with managing Abigail. Joey is sympathetic to her, sharing that she has a son and promising to protect Abigail from harm. Abigail admits her father does not care about her and will not pay the ransom, before apologizing for what is going to happen to Joey. Perturbed by Abigail’s words, Frank violently confronts her, learning that her father is Kristof Lazaar, a powerful, almost mythical crime lord.
After unsuccessfully flirting with Sammy, Dean enters the basement where he is attacked by an unseen assailant. Investigating his screams, Sammy finds Dean’s decapitated corpse. The group realize that Lazaar’s legendarily violent enforcer Valdez must be inside the house and try to leave but the home’s security system seals the property, preventing escape. While looking for a way out, Rickles is mutilated and killed. The group confronts Abigail for information but she transforms into a vampire, revealing she is Valdez. Frank shoots Abigail but her injuries instantly heal and the group flees.
Frank, Sammy, and Peter return and ineffectively attack Abigail with tropes of vampiric lore such as garlic and crucifixes, and her strength and speed allow her to easily overwhelm and prevent them from stabbing her through the heart with wooden stakes. Joey successfully incapacitates Abigail with a tranquilizer and the team imprison her, though not before she bites Sammy. Upon awakening, the centuries-old Abigail reveals that she knows the group’s true identities and arranged for them to abduct her, through Lambert, so she can kill them for wronging her father. Joey deduces that Abigail has killed dozens of her father’s enemies in a failed effort to earn her father’s love.
Abigail effortlessly escapes her confines and attacks Frank, but Joey rips wooden planks off a window to expose Abigail to sunlight, which severely wounds her. With only hours before sunset, the group splits up to find an escape route, but Sammy is transformed into a vampire thrall and kills Peter. Abigail has Sammy attack Frank and Joey, forcing Joey to destroy Sammy with reflected sunlight.
Lambert lures Frank and Joey to the hidden security room, where he reveals Abigail turned him into a vampire years earlier for helping Frank avoid Lazaar’s wrath. Frank allows Lambert to turn him into a vampire so they can work together to kill Abigail and Lazaar, but following his transformation, Frank kills Lambert for leading him into Abigail’s trap. Abigail attacks Frank, but he overpowers her and drains her blood, leaving her weakened. Cornered, Joey leaves a phone message for her son, apologizing for having been absent from his life for many years. Reveling in his power, Frank bites Joey, intending to turn her into his thrall and force her to kill Abigail and eventually her own son. However, Joey’s enthrallment fails due to Frank’s inexperience with his new abilities, and she and Abigail team up to kill him.
Abigail (2024)
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Goode, Alisha Weir
Screenplay by: Stephen Shields, Guy Busick
Production Design by: Susie Cullen
Cinematography by: Aaron Morton
Costume Design by: Gwen Jeffares Hourie:
Art Direction by: Shane McEnroe, Aisling O’Callaghan
Music by: Brian Tyler
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence and gore throughout, pervasive language and brief drug use.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: April 19, 2024
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