Abigail Review: Dracula’s Daughter Has Daddy Issues

“That’s a movie I’d see in theaters,” I thought when the trailer for Abigail dropped at the beginning of this year. It looked fun and maybe like the ballet/vampire horror movie mashup we didn’t know we needed. I made a mental note to try to snag free passes if there was an advanced screening. As luck would have it, Gofobo offered one.

However, even though I won free passes, I almost turned them back in after checking the Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. At the time, (Wednesday, April 17) it was at 82%. That made me nervous. It’s a great critic score, but historically I end up not liking horror movies with an 80% Rotten Tomatoes ranking. Would Abigail be an exception to that rule?

I also wondered if the trailer showed all of the best parts, and the main gist of the movie, or if it was truly a tantalizing teaser.

So what did I think? Did the trailer give the whole movie away, or were there still some surprises? If I hadn’t won passes, would I think it’s worth paying to see in theaters? Or is this a movie that’s better to wait and watch once it hits a streaming service?

*Warning: Spoilers ahead.*

Movie Overview

Another reason I almost gave my passes up was because I’m not a fan of heist movies. The trailer showed some of that, but the synopsis emphasized it even more:

After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

Thanks to the trailer, we know the criminals find out she’s a vampire. That’s what gave me pause. Where else could the movie go? What other surprises could it possibly offer?

Abigail Review

Never doubt the writing strengths of Guy Busick (Ready of Not, Scream, and Scream VI). Along with co-writer Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground, Hunted), they definitely threw in some unexpected twists to resurrect the Dracula’s daughter trope in a fresh way.

A lot of people are crediting the performances of more familiar actors, like Melissa Barrera (Scream, Scream VI) and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, The Guest). For good reason. Barrera shines as the sympathetic Joey, a former junkie battling guilt over letting her addiction take precedence over caring for her son. And Stevens once again reminds us he glows as a golden boy in good guy roles but is devastatingly insidious as a villain.

The supporting cast, which included William Clacket, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durrand, Angus Cloud, and Giancarlo Esposito, also delivered outstanding performances. As well as killer comedic relief.

But it was the titular character, played by Alisha Weir, who really needed to sell her role as a fanged prima ballerina in order for Abigail to work. Nailed it. She’ll pirouette into the horror hall of fame of creepy kid characters to join the likes of Regan (The Exorcist), Damen (The Omen), and Isaac (Children of the Corn).

But the fun part is how the writers imagined Dracula’s daughter if she had daddy issues. Which Abigail does. He wanted her at first, got bored of her, now he barely has anything to do with her. To earn his love, she takes care of his enemies.

Oh, but that’s leaving out a crucial component. Her dad is a vampire, but not Dracula, and he’s a powerful crime lord.

Which, speaking of dads, a familiar face from another vampire series makes a special appearance as Father at the end. But that’s one spoiler I’ll keep under wraps.

Verdict

Abigail is as unpretentious as it is unassuming. It recognizes vampire movies have been done before—and a lot. It includes fun nods to its predecessors.

Since it is a vampire movie, you expect some blood and gore. Abigail “explodes” with a fair amount of it. But it also has a lot of heart and not the ripped-from-the-chest kind. I’m talking tenderness. It explores the oftentimes complicated realm of parent/child relationships. Even vampire daughters struggle with feelings of neglect.

I will say that I would’ve been okay with paying for this one in theaters as long as I’d bought a cheaper matinee ticket or equivalent. Otherwise, I would’ve streamed it as soon as I was able and no doubt been pleasantly surprised with the spooktacular setting, clever plot, and talented, excellent cast. If you’re a fan of the vampire genre, you’ll want to give Abigail a taste.

Check-In

Will you see Abigail in theaters or wait to rent or stream it? Or will you pass on it altogether?