Universal Pictures is trying to reinvent its monster stories with new movies that take a less traditional approach. Enter Radio Silence, a group of filmmakers who have enjoyed making horror movies such as Ready or Not, Scream (2022), and Scream VI. Very loosely based on Universal’s classic film, Dracula’s Daughter, Abigail tells a very different story about a young child kidnapped for ransom. Like Radio Silence’s previous films, Abigail is a highly entertaining movie with laughs, tension, thrills, and some splattery bloody fun.
Alisha Weir plays Abigail, a ballet-loving child and the daughter of a wealthy and influential father. A group of criminals is hired to kidnap Abigail, and they succeed in their mission. The plot thickens as the team takes the child to a grand yet ancient estate for negotiations. However, they soon realize they are in over their heads when an evil attacker starts picking them off one by one, adding a chilling layer of suspense to the story.
Written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busck and directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Abigail is an exciting and entertaining vampire horror flick full of surprises and explosive, bloody thrills. I love that Universal is revisiting its old stories and allowing modern filmmakers to reinvent them excitingly and creatively. Knowing that this movie is a remake of Universal’s Dracula’s Daughter, I watched the classic film before this screening, but this film is entirely different from the classic movie.
And that is what usually makes for a great remake. When filmmakers can take a particular story and do something vastly different and rousing with a specific idea, this concept makes cinema more exciting. This take on the story has a great sense of humor but also blends in some solid character development and storytelling.
The cast of Abigail is a delightful ensemble, with standout performances from Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Will Catlett, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, and the late Angus Cloud. However, Alisha Weir’s confident and assured portrayal of Abigail truly stole the show. Her playful manipulation of her captors was a joy to watch, and her ability to blend humor and malice seamlessly was impressive. I eagerly anticipate her future projects as her talent will shine.
Abigail is a great popcorn horror flick best enjoyed by a captive horror audience. It doesn’t matter if one has watched Dracula’s Daughter because this film is very different in its story and tone. I highly recommend that fans of The Lost Boys and anything Radio Silence has done previously check out Abigail theatrically. It is definitely worth one’s time and money at the cinema.