Abigail (2024) - Collector's Edition [DVD]

I've watched this a few times now. Abigail's 36 minutes of screentime (yes, it's really that little -- I actually counted) are the best parts of the film and it's worth watching just for those scenes alone. The other actors play their parts well (especially Dan Stevens as Frank), but It's unfortunate that Abigail only has a few scenes, and only two where she even gets to speak at any length. What a wasted opportunity! She's such a great villain and played with such a range of emotions and techniques. She violently yells and screams, but is also strangely subdued at other times (notice how many words she actually just whispers during the cage scene). She's merciless, but (spoilers) not beyond giving mercy to those who have earned it.This film might seem like it doesn't have enough depth to merit watching more than once, but it actually has some things that can be uncovered on repeated viewings. For example, notice that Abigail is offered a pinky promise TWICE by Joey (not just the first one you see in the trailer), but Abigail doesn't pinky promise the second time (she ignores Joey) because she would be lying. This foreshadows that she respects pinky promises (she doesn't mind lying, but she won't lie with a pinky promise). It is also hinted (at least I think) that Abigail might be turning into the rat you see scurrying around the mansion a few times. That would explain how she's able to sneak past everyone. Also, given the last scene and how she acts about her father, the scenes of Abigail with Joey probably aren't as simple as "Abigail is just pretending to be a little girl." There's an element of sincerity in those conversations.

I am a horror, fanatic. Feel free to move along, if that perturbs you. THIS MOVIE WAS EXCELLENT! I am not going to give away a thing, except that I normally HATE watching kids in horror movies. I just don't connect with that theme, for whatever reason. Having said that...this is one the most exciting, fun, lol, gory, sadistic, and messed-up movies you will see this year. I am SOOOOOOOOOO glad I looked past the "child" part - because - she happened to have been the superstar of the movie. EXCELLENT. Slow start, to be sure, but great setting, cinematography, plot, and acting. Much love to long-lost Angus Cloud...a really special, tortured, beautiful, and beloved human being. This film was dedicated to him. RIP.

I was surprised at how much I loved ‘Abigail’. It’s a fun vampire movie with (very) few true scares, but it delivers on the dark comedy. It’s a good watch, the cinematography is lovely and the scenes well done by the cast. I loved seeing Giancarlo Esposito. This explains why he doesn’t age!

The end of the movie left me feeling oddly satisfied. Perhaps it is because *spoiler* [the child was allowed to be a child, not just a monters]. Many people die (some you'll feel bad for, some you'll happily cheer for), and the "vampire" element is handled with enough "respect" and "gore" to keep things interesting.Would I want to watch this again? Yes. So money well spent.Would I recommend it? Yes, but I think the "feel good element" at the end may not appeal to the majority who like things dirty and unsettling. This was a "gold star" win for me. I hope to see more movies like it.

Who doesn't like horror-comedy? Who doesn't love watching bad people getting theirs via some vaguely explained vengeance plot? Who doesn't love listening to Black Swan playing on a warped record because the movie couldn't afford anything license? If you answered yes to all of those, seek professional help. Oh, and watch Abigail.Okay, good stuff first. Alisha Weir (Matilda the Musical) carries this movie through every bloody frame as a monster trapped in a child's body and milks every scene she gets with a dedicated weirdness. Melissa Barrera (Scream VI) shows she can act like an adult in a horror movie and gives me hope her career might just survive her Twitter feed. And Dan Stevens plays the perfect blend of slimy, competent and easy to agree with so well that you'll find yourself agreeing with his actions even while anxiously awaiting the moment he finally gets his. Had this been more along the lines of an unhappily married couple finding their way into the worst honeymoon ever, it would have been perfect with the strength of this cast alone.Unfortunately, like always in these kind of vague revenge movies, the script shows its hand a little to eagerly and also feels a little too top heavy for its mostly simple p!ot. Kevin Durand's portrayal of a muscle head with the IQ of a house plant is funny for a whopping ten minutes before it grates on the nerves. Angus Cloud (in his final role) and William Catlett leave the movie so quickly that it feels like the movie over cast and had to cut bodies before explaining why they were even there (Seriously, WHY were they even there?). Even Kathryn Newton, known for quirky but memorable roles, feels too much like an add-on. There are bones of a perfect movie here. It just gets buried by an inability to explain itself.Verdict time: the movie is still a fun, wacky runaway train of cheap-but-effective scares and some decently made set pieces that are worth the price I paid for the rental ($6.99). Had this still been stuck on the early release price ($19.99), it would have felt like a bigger ripoff than Ghostbusters Frozen Kingdom. My advice: rent it during the discount weeks or wait a few months to find it at a more wallet-friendly price. Watching a ballerina vampire chase a fully-grown man down a hallway while he screams the terror of a little girl is worth more on a discount.