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A Dawning Horror as the Trap Is Set
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Abigail Perfects the Fine Line Between Horror and Comedy
Radio Silence is adept at horror. With such offerings as Ready or Not, V/H/S, as well as the return of the Ghostface killer franchise itself, Scream, the studio has posted their brand of horror with much success. And while each of their previous films have found cult or commercial acclaim, it is at the tip toes of a prepubescent vampire ballerina that the studio dances at its greatest strength. In a collaboration with Universal Studios, Radio Silence released Abigail, a new take on a Dracula-like story that may well be the studio’s best work yet.
A horror comedy that pits a group of mercenaries against an adolescent ballerina vampire, Abigail takes the vampire trope and spins it on its heels in a refreshing take that is both camp and nuanced. Thanks to likable characters, a subtle unfolding of horror, and the terrible fascination of its main star, the film offers a remarkably corrupted tale that is both unique and horrifying.
A Dawning Horror as the Trap Is Set
Boasting a cast of relatable characters, Abigailcuts to the fear of being human. From Joey (Melissa Barrera), the single mom and recovering addict, to dimwitted Peter (Kevin Durand) and the lovable goofball Dean (Angus Cloud), all the characters are diverse in circumstance and capably portrayed in a way that ably showcases their vulnerabilities. Appropriately named the Rat Pack, the group also includes Sammy (Kathryn Newton), Rickles (Will Catlett), and Frank (Dan Stevens).
With a wonderful chemistry that is at points antagonistic, the lovely pack of rats find themselves bound together in an uneasy partnership that is strained against their eventual demise at the hands of the tutued terror of the night. In a remarkable effort, the film slowly lays down the mercenaries’ physical strengths against a force against which they cannot stand. No longer predators, they have become the prey in a revelation that beautifully twists their strength and exposes their vulnerability under the haunting gaze of an eternal foe.
Abigail Perfects the Fine Line Between Horror and Comedy
The showcase in this film is Abigail, the pre-teen, centuries-old ballerina vampire that likes to play with her food. Alisha Weir is engaging, vulnerable, and horrifying in appropriate measures. As is her character, Abigail. The switch of her character from innocent victim to a deadly vampire assassin is comical in theory and enterprising in truth. Playing out her apparent weakness against the mercenaries’ strengths was an inspired idea. This contrast makes Abigail a surprising and well-worked villain to torture our anti-heroes and drive us through this film. Abigail could have been just any normal 12-year-old girl. It is, in fact, her presentation as such that speaks to the heart of the horror franchise that sometimes the true terrors exist in the ordinary.
Like its titular character, Abigail strides on a delicate balancing act. Dancing between horror and humor, the film dips in and out of tension on a well-heeled turn. The concept of a vampire ballerina could have come off as a ridiculous gag; however, it offers a grounding as well as a fair bit of humor to the film. Watching Abigail dance, in full ballerina regalia, while she taunts and devours her captors is both entertaining and creepy. Reminiscent of a spider crossing a web in a sparkling hat and tap shoes, Abigail is a performer in the quest for her food. Though the rest of the cast are made of straight-laced types, both Peter and Dean are characters that reliably provide comic relief. Their moments of lightness add a welcome bite to the tension so deftly produced as the gang find themselves progressively cornered in Abigail’s daunting web.
The perfect balance of camp, horror, and drama, Abigail is an impressive film filled with relatable characters and a wonderfully oppressive villain. Mixed with humor, the film provides a wide-eyed twist on the Dracula franchise that proves that cute kids plus scary can still be a winning combination. More grounded than a movie about vampire ballerinas ought to be, Abigail is a stellar standout in Radio Silence’s stable of productions that leaves open a wonderful universe of possibilities to explore.
