Abigail is a horror comedy about a kidnapping that goes wrong. Six criminals take a teenage ballerina named Abigail, hoping for a $50 million ransom. What they get is a vampire. The film, directed by Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, turns a simple setup into a slow-burn nightmare.
Trailer, via Universal Pictures.
The Kidnappers
Lambert hires the group to guard Abigail for 24 hours. Each gets $7 million if the ransom comes through. The team includes a former Army medic named Joey, a former NYPD detective named Frank, a hacker named Sammy, a Marine sniper named Rickles, a mob enforcer named Peter, and a driver named Dean. They all use aliases to protect themselves.
The Ransom
The plan is straightforward. Abigail’s father, Kristof Lazaar, runs a powerful criminal empire. Lambert wants the money. The kidnappers want their share. Abigail is collateral, and everyone believes the ransom will come through.
The Twist
Abigail says her father won’t pay. She then apologizes for what will happen to Joey. Dean is killed early, and Rickles is torn apart. The group locks Abigail in a cage, but she breaks free and bites Sammy.
The Fight
Frank, Sammy, and Peter gather items said to harm vampires. Nothing works. Abigail is too fast. She kills Peter and nearly kills Frank. Only Joey, who has a son, manages to tranquilize her.
The Cast
Melissa Barrera plays Joey, a medic and recovering addict. Dan Stevens plays Frank, a corrupt detective. Alisha Weir plays Abigail, a centuries-old vampire who looks like a 12-year-old girl. Kathryn Newton plays Sammy, a thrill-seeking hacker. Kevin Durand plays Peter, a mob enforcer. Will Catlett plays Rickles, a sniper. Angus Cloud plays Dean, a driver who died before filming wrapped. Giancarlo Esposito plays Lambert, a criminal mastermind. Matthew Goode plays Kristof Lazaar, Abigail’s father.
The Production
The film was announced in April 2023. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett were attached as directors, and Shields and Busick were hired to write the screenplay. It was a co-production between Radio Silence Productions, Project X Entertainment, and Vinson Films. The film premiered at the Overlook Film Festival on April 7, 2024, and opened in theaters on April 19. It grossed $43 million on a $28 million budget.
The Verdict
Abigail is a mixed bag. It has a strong premise, a solid cast, and a few genuinely scary moments. It also has pacing issues and a second act that sags. The setup is clever, but the execution loses focus.
| Element | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Premise | Clever kidnapping twist | Slow middle |
| Comedy | Some laughs | Thin jokes |
| Horror | Effective scares | Occasional tonal drift |
| Cast | Strong ensemble | Imbalanced chemistry |
The film premiered at the Overlook Film Festival on April 7, 2024, and opened in theaters on April 19. It grossed $43 million on a $28 million budget.
Abigail is worth seeing for the cast and the setup, but it doesn’t fully deliver on its promise.
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