UPON WATCHING the trailer of Abigail, I was left intrigued by the film's premise.
A cast of characters, tasked to kidnap an innocent looking girl named Abigail and send her inside a mansion, where they will spend the rest of their times babysitting her.
Only for her innocence to disappear as Abigail reveals her true colors, a vampire who stalks and feasts on her prey.
It may seem like the trailer has already given us a summary of what will exactly happen, but does Abigail do more than just that?
WARNING: Minor spoilers ahead
Does Abigail fall into the cliche?
As the credits started rolling, I realized that Abigail exceeded my expectations. It wasn't just your typical supernatural entity going on a killing spree, as there is a mystery surrounding the events.
For instance, why did Lambert (portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito), bring the characters inside the mansion to babysit Abigail? Why were there rules imposed on the characters?
Eventually these answers will slowly be revealed and there is also a connection made with each of the characters. One of them even harbors something deep with Abigail.
Now I won't spoil the rest of the film, but Abigail is more than just a vampire wrecking havoc on everyone.
But besides the overall plot, there is also a sense of mystery with the events that followed suit.
For instance, let's take a look at how Abigail dispatches some of the characters. The first victim from the blood sucking menace, is actually the character who we expect to die first, given how irrelevant he was in the film.
Afterwards, I was expecting that Abigail will aim for the brainless muscle head but instead she set her sights on the highly trained soldier, which immediately gave me the impression: anyone can die at any moment.
So how about the fate of the other characters? That's for you to find out, but throughout the film, Abigail was able to play through our minds, which ultimately makes her the star of the film.
The best vampire in film?
There's no denying that Alisha Weir portrayal of Abigail was an absolute masterclass.
So many scenes in the film, which focuses on her trolling antics and deceptive nature, have made her stand out. Heck she even has the audacity to be 'in your face' when it comes to showcasing her craft, which will make the viewer love her more, despite her villainous nature.
In addition, what makes her even likeable are the humurous moments involving her.
With a smile on her face, she would gleefully chase the muscle head, while showcasing her ballet moves.
Then there was a time when she played a song, danced ballet with a headless body, only for her to be attacked, but Abigail prevailed as she knew that her victims would eventually fall for her trap.
However there's more to Abigail than just a calculated menace as seen from the ending, where her other side was revealed, making her a work of art in terms of story progression.
But Abigail wasn't the only character that really stood tall in this film as there were others that also deserve the spotlight. Both Joey (played by Melissa Barrera) and Frank (Dan Stevens) have been a foil to Abigail as both could match her strategic prowess, with Frank mirroring Abigail in terms of character development, but with a unique twist.
When comedy meets horror
Besides Abigail and her mischievous nature, the film also has other strengths that are worth noting.
Looking back at the trailer, it can be argued that the film is marketed to be a horror film, but when watching the film, the directors namely Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, have introduced some elements of comedy.
For instance let's look at some of the jumpscares in the film, the moment when Dean (portrayed by Angus Cloud, rest in peace), appeared out of nowhere to frighten Sammy (Kathryn Newton), I was left laughing. It seemed the directors planned to tease the audience on what will happen next.
And this is what made Abigail an enjoyable film. Throughout moments of tension, the film would follow suit with a pint of comedy, which actually manages our emotions.
Blending horror with comedy can be tricky as the latter could ruin the vibe of a horror film, but Abigail perfectly balances both.
CONCLUSION
Due to the blend of horror and comedy, Abigail is a movie that is perfect for viewers who are intimidated by the nature of horror films. Viewers who are easily rattled by jumpscares could experience a shift in perspective when watching Abigail, and this could also encourage other horror film directors to integrate the film's formula.
It felt like the directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, intended to troll the audience, from the beginning all the way to the end. What started as a premise which could ring a bell to 'Home Alone' turns out to be a Scooby Doo-esque mystery that needs to be solved. Plus there are other surprises that await.
And due to these jack-in-a-box moments, Abigail is a film that will surely offer a lot of thrills and most importantly...smiles.
Don't let Abigail's innocent smile deceive you though.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
