It’s fair to say that 2024 has had no right to hit so hard with horror films. So far this year, we have been back to the ‘80s withLisa Frankenstein, took our seats alongside the doomed audience ofLate Night with the Devil, canceled our birthday plans thanks toLonglegs, and, most recently, enjoyed an absolute “wtf” moment with everyone else in the theater during the last 20 minutes ofAlien: Romulus. But those of us out there who love a hefty helping of comedy with our horror were uber-delighted back in April when filmmakersMatt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, known collectively as Radio Silence, thrilled and chilled us with their vampire flick,Abigail. Right now, the movie is making its way up the charts on Peacock, feeding on the competition.
Serving as the latest title to come from Universal’s modern-day adaptations of the studio’s classic monster features of yesteryear,Abigailhearkened back to the 1936 movie,Dracula’s Daughter. In it, a group of professional kidnappers with no ties to one another have been tasked with ransoming a young girl overnight in a mansion. At first, the mission seems fairly easy as the well-trained group essentially just needs to wait out the night until the money is delivered. But, things take a turn for the disastrous when the young girl, Abigail (Alisha Weir) reveals her true identity as a blood-sucking vampire.
Known for their work in the fifth and sixth installments in theScreamfranchise, as well asReady or Not, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett absolutely crushed the vision forAbigail. Blending comedy with horror has always been the pair’s bread and butter, and they delivered ten-fold for the Universal picture. The other major factor that went into deliveringAbigailits 83% onRotten Tomatoeswere the performances from its primary ensemble, which, along with Weir, includedMelissa Barrera(Scream VI),Kevin Durand(Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes),Dan Stevens(Cuckoo),Kathryn Newton(Lisa Frankenstein),Will Catlett(Constellation),Giancarlo Esposito(The Mandalorian) andAngus Cloud(Euphoria) in what would be the latter’s penultimate posthumous release.
Melissa Barrera: A Modern Scream Queen
After working with Radio Silence onScream(2022) andScream VI,Abigailmarked the third time Barrera would team-up with the directorial duo. While we’ve loved seeing her in the drama seriesVidaand in the on-screen adaptation of the musical,In the Heights, there’s no denying that Barrera’s presence in horror films is an incredibly special one. Up next, the actress is set to appear in the release ofYour Monster, arom-com horror film from Caroline Lindy, which has already been receiving rave reviews since its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year.
You can now streamAbigailon Peacock in the U.S.
After a group of criminals kidnaps 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.
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