Abigail (2024)

Abigail (2024) is an Irish, US and Canadian production categorised in: Horror/Thriller/Comedy /Epic… or let’s say Terror!

Country: Ireland, United States, Canada

The music is excellent. If anything, it would be worth buying the soundtrack alone.

With Abigail, it’s another ballerina of horror who leaps onto the screen. Captivating for a good half of the show – and certainly the bloodiest character in the sub-genre – she doesn’t reach the heights of the dance in Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan”.

Blood-lovers, you’ll love this film!
But for the rest of you…

At first, I thought that if the whole film was like the intro and the first half-hour, it would be a masterpiece. And I was right: if everything had been like the intro and the first half-hour, it would have been a masterpiece!

The first half (come on, let’s be nice!) is excellent. Unfortunately there’s a dip and a fall… before ending with a catastrophic last half-hour. As always, it’s got to hit the nail on the head!

In fact, I love being surprised by a film in its entirety. So I don’t watch trailers and I didn’t pay any particular attention to the poster. So I wasn’t expecting anything, but I was pleased that it started out as a magnificent thriller. Alas, it’s one of those films in two distinct parts. Does that mean anything to you? Yes, it’s easy to think back to failed films like “The Forgotten” (2004) or “10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016). On the other hand, “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996) is a real nugget!

For those who thought it would be a witty film… it’s not! Far from it!

The actress is young and talented, and some of the scenes are well done, but that’s where it stops. A completely flawed film that has neither the good side of horror nor the good side of comedy. The actors are clichéd and stereotypical, but that doesn’t always bother me. On the other hand, there’s no originality. I was even reminded of the first story in “Little Deaths” (2011), which is also a film to be banned and avoided as a matter of urgency.

You don’t know what to invent. Ridiculous, absurd film. Another disgrace for cinema. A waste of time. Even if you watch it for free, you should get your money back!

Another disappointment. Once the film takes its ‘horror’ turn, it’s the beginning of the end, the beginning of a lawless decadence. I don’t know where the film fits in, I don’t know how to interpret it… and it’s quite shameful given the budget and the standing of the actors.

Sometimes I wonder how they can come up with such rubbish! Do they watch their film beforehand? Do they reread the dialogue? Why put out yet another film that doesn’t scare or fly high, while advertising it like ‘the horror film of the year’? In short, I didn’t like it and I obviously wouldn’t recommend it!

I found this review to fill the gap: “Thanks to the trailer, I’ve just saved myself a cinema ticket. You can see practically the whole film and it looks as bad as a reggaeton party. Good horror films are sorely lacking!

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett previously directed “Wedding Nightmare” (2019) which was just as good as this… and that’s saying everything! And they also made “Scream 5” (2022) and “Scream 6” (2023)… which are much better, but neither of them are as good as the very first or the fourth.

This directorial duo love it when a film descends into disgusting gore… and their black humour quickly becomes tiresome.