The Mosley Review: Abigail
Oh what a time the horror genre is having this early into the year! We just had an awesome take on demonic possession and now, the team behind the great current Scream sequels and the outstanding Ready or Not, deliver yet another insanely fun horror film. I can't think of the last time we had a good vampire film that was straight forward and not about the depression of living forever or some boring slog of a teen romance. This film from the beginning throws you right into the story and sets up the players pretty quickly while leaving enough mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. Time management and speed are always the key elements when it comes to the horror thrillers and this film excels at that. Not only do the thrills keep coming, but the violence on display is actually story driven and inventive at times. The cast alone is what makes or breaks these type of films and they truly make this film because you care about each one in a unique way.
Alisha Weir was outstanding and intense as Abigail. There are so many layers to her performance that many would not be able to achieve at her at age. There is a level of regalness, experience and that deep seated joy in the hunt for her food. What I loved is that she actually retained her humanity in many moments and was honest. Melissa Barrera was awesome as Joey and I loved the compassion in her voice and her steadfast strength in the film. She may be one of the smartest and untrusting people in the room, but she was also the most balanced. The chemistry between her and Abigail was the heart of the film and was fascinating to see their plot unfold. Dan Stevens was great and unflinching as Frank. I loved that he was the most aggressive and sometimes cunning of the group with his more controlling nature. Kathryn Newton is always a joy to see on screen and as Sammy, she was the classic young and spunky character that enjoyed the thrill of the heist. Kevin Durand is one of those actors that you love to see and he can capture your heart with his charm. As Peter, he may have been the big brute of the group, but he had a heart of gold and it shines in his chemistry with Sammy. William Catlett was cool and active as Rickles. He had the right ideas about the situation they were in, but acted a little too late. He was the strong silent type, but I think him and Joey would've made a great team. The late Angus Cloud was good as Dean and even though I sometimes had a hard time understanding him with the mumbling of his lines, he still had charm and was hilarious in some great scenes. Giancarlo Esposito continues to be a powerhouse on screen and as Lambert, he may not be in the film alot, but his presence is felt in the set up of the story and throughout the film.
The score by Brian Tyler was excellent and nails the thrilling pace of the film and underscores the intense moments of violence. When it comes to the violence, the gore in this film was absolutely satisfying and the build up to each kill or gross out visual was well done. The sound and effects team really know how to make each bite impactful and each pop look and sound so powerful. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of Radio Silence truly love the horror genre and have made yet another glorious horror thriller that re-invigorates the vampire genre in such a fun way. They follow the rules they set up in the beginning and do not waver. This is definitely one of my favorite films of the year and I can't wait to watch this again. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
