Abigail — Review

Given the high-concept nature of Radio Silence’s latest chamber piece set within an isolated mansion, it’s noteworthy that the characters in ABIGAIL aren’t the expendable would-be victims that one might expect them to be. Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens lead the ensemble cast of talented actors, each of whom fills their respective character with depth and personality. Alisha Weir as the titular Abigail is the stand out though; she confidently switches between the facade of a scared young girl and the film’s actual primordial threat with devilish glee. Weir dances about with grace and screeches with bloodcurdling abandon, rendering our human sextet confused and terrified by their predicament.

Much like 2019’s READY OR NOT, ABIGAIL manages to strike up a delicate balance between what constitutes horror and comedy, with neither being allowed to overshadow the other. Humour is used frequently but never so much so that the film begins to lack tension. As a reimagining of a classic Universal monster movie, Radio Silence bring plenty of modern style to the film which, when coupled with the fitting musical score and the warm sepia tones, lends itself to a disquieting atmosphere conducive to paranoia and suspense. Beyond that, ABIGAIL has more than enough explosive gore to whet the appetite, but its success doesn’t stem from the sheer volume of crimson carnage brought to the screen, but from the strength of the production, the writing of the characters and the incredibly game acting performances.