In a year filled with a ton of very serious horror, it feels good to see Radio Silence offer up a quick, breezy bit of survival horror that I could get behind. In fact the compactness can even tend to work toward the film’s detriment as it feels like an extended version of an anthology horror show, right down to the fact that it’s all one big chamber piece. “Abigail” watches a lot like the classic EC Comics, where our ensemble of ne’er do wells get what’s coming to them in a remarkable twist.
A group of would-be criminals kidnaps the 12-year-old daughter of a powerful underworld figure. Holding her for ransom in an isolated mansion, their plan starts to unravel when they discover their young captive is actually a bloodthirsty vampire.
Radio Silence commits to this twist, not only turning the most unlikely of characters in to a deceitful villain, but a powerful one at that. I was very much engrossed with what unfolded as the team stuffs the camera with a stellar ensemble cast. There’s Juan Carlos Esposito, Kathyrn Newton, and Kevin Durand while the cast is topped off with excellent turns by Dan Stevens, Melissa Barrera, and Alisha Weir. “Abigail” could act almost as a companion piece to “Reservoir Dogs” where this group of anonymous thieves are forced to unravel this mystery as the body count gets higher by the hour. The script garners a remarkable sense of humor reveling in the weird use of body parts and grue at every turn.
Once the script drops all the pretenses “Abigail” transforms in to a tale of survival, as Abigail know so much more than any of them can comprehend. Although there isn’t much information or exposition on Abigail and her9 family, we’re given just enough to know that’s unfolding is a car crash of monumental proportions and Abigail is prepared to lick the blood off of the floor. It’s almost as if Dead Silence gave star Alisha Weir the words “ballerina vampire” and just told her to run with it. And run she does Along the way Dan Stevens and Barrera are equally as memorable portraying morally gray thieves with their own motives for this kidnapping that completely spiral out of control.
Stevens makes playing a slimy bastard look so easy. If anything, “Abigail” sadly runs out of steam in the final act, making a lot of the dramatic tension feel forced and or tacked on. Nonetheless, I want a sequel, or at least a prequel that goes over another group of unlucky bastards.