‘Bullies beware’
Abigail is a 2023 thriller a few troubled feminine teen who takes it upon herself to take revenge on her greatest buddy’s bullies.
Directed and co-produced by Melissa Vitello (Communicate Now; The Sound of Settling; Neighborhood Theater Christmas) from a screenplay by Gunnar Garrett. Additionally produced by Stacy Snyder.
The Darkish Gravity Studios-Mooncastle Movies-Ranch Hand Movies co-production stars Ava Cantrell, Tren Reed-Brown, Hermione Lynch, Gene Farber and Karimah Westbrook.
Plot:
In 1976, troubled teenager Abigail and her mom transfer to a small Alabama city in hopes of escaping the lady’s violent previous. She befriends the lonely black boy subsequent door, Lucas, who’s mercilessly bullied by a gaggle of children in school.
Decided to assist him search revenge, Abigail takes issues into her personal fingers however rapidly spirals uncontrolled. As Lucas begins to uncover his new buddy’s darkish and twisted nature, issues take a lethal flip. Now, he should select between standing by her facet or stopping her earlier than it’s too late…
Our evaluate:
Director Melissa Vitello’s Abigail opens with an unpromising prologue seemingly cribbed from simply each low-budget slasher-horror flick ever: two younger folks on a date in darkish woods are stalked, then killed, by a maniac with a crude sack for a head masks.
A flashback to 1 week earlier exhibits what led as much as the dire scene within the properly evoked (primarily by regrettable vogue) mid-’70s timeframe. What appears to be a by-the-numbers “empowerment” exploitation thriller (assume alongside the strains of Abel Ferrara’s Ms.45 or possibly even I Spit On Your Grave, in order for you), will get higher with dawning viewer consciousness that as Abigail fearlessly involves her buddy Lucas’ defence, this lady isn’t only a courageous, crusading liberal-feminist youth supreme – she is a fully, murderously loopy sadist.
Viewers who assume they know the place this plot line goes – possibly a reboot of the cult traditional Fairly Poison (1968), the place a dysfunctional Anthony Perkins discovered Tuesday Weld was a much bigger nutter than he was – possibly thrown by third-act twists from scriptwriter Gunnar Garrett. Abigail in the end arrives at a type of style send-up of the slasher-horror aesthete, however one which winks much less on the viewers over its cleverness than the Scream sequence does. This one performs its playing cards (or, on this case, baseball bats) nearer to the vest. It supplies a superb variety of really discomfiting jolts within the meantime.
And, as within the authentic Night time of the Residing Lifeless, the racial angle by no means comes up expressly within the script, but contributes markedly to the stress. The novelty of a lady director working within the testosterone-charged milieu of slasher-horror – notorious for its 
misogyny, even when Jaime Lee Curtis efficiently fought off Michael Myers again and again – can be neat stuff. Vitello will get high quality from her performers, with particularly good give-and-take between leads Cantrell and Reed-Brown.
Gore followers needs to be happy with the deaths and themes however no nudity, intercourse, medicine or cheerleaders slain with energy instruments, we should add that advisory. Nonetheless, do this Abigail, deserving of “sleeper” standing.
Charles Cassady Jr, MOVIES and MANIA
MOVIES and MANIA score:
Different critiques:
“Abigail is a good potboiler character drama/thriller which definitely does a beautiful job of showcasing the expertise of its forged. I had seen Ava beforehand in Lights Out and in addition some season 2 episodes of Younger Sheldon, however if you wish to see how gifted Ava is relating to close to shouldering a full movie on her personal shoulders (which she does splendidly) then do take a look at Abigail Two Thumbs Up!” From Web page to Display
” …relatively predictable to long-time style followers, however youthful viewers might discover a number of the twists and divulges partaking.
This isn’t a game-changer of a movie, and I think lots of people shall be underwhelmed, however that’s to not say it’s unhealthy. Nevertheless, having some parts in widespread with different, considerably comparable — and lots of may say superior — motion pictures solely provides to the general unoriginal proceedings.” The Good, the Dangerous and the Verdict
“It is a enjoyable little slasher-styled film, it flips what we might count on to present us one thing extra shocking […] If a extra distant location had been used, it could have helped the film attain the following degree. Efficiency-wise, we now have an ideal forged and we will take pleasure in seeing the our bodies pile up.” ★★★ Film Evaluations 101
“With its lack of gore and refusal to totally exploit some probably disturbing themes, Abigail feels prefer it was meant as a horror thriller for youthful audiences. Or maybe for individuals who don’t often watch horror movies however would reply to its promoting that tries to promote it as one other younger female-fronted motion thriller like Becky.” ★★½ Voices from the Balcony
Launch:
Within the US, Abigail was launched by Darkish Star Footage on VOD on December 5, 2023.
Trailer:
Nation of origin:
United States
Notes:
To not be confused with the 2024 vampire movie of the identical title.
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