Don’t Let the Looks Fool You: Abigail Bites in New Horror-Comedy

Just when you thought the vampire genre had been drained dry, along comes Abigail to inject it with a shot of adrenaline. 

This 2024 release, directed by the team behind the recent Scream revivals, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, takes a campy bite out of classic horror tropes, leaving audiences both scared and screaming with laughter.

The movie follows a group of kidnappers who capture a rich man’s daughter after a ballet rehearsal, only to discover their hostage is an ancient, bloodthirsty vampire called Abigail. 

Alisha Weir, plays the lead role as the titular vampire ballerina, following her breakout performance in Netflix’s Matilda. 

The 18/R-rated horror thriller stars Giancarlo Esposito, Melissa Barrera, Kevin Durand, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, and the late Angus Cloud as criminals trapped in a mansion with the vampire Abigail.

The movie initially conceals its vampire premise until 40 minutes in, delivering twisted playfulness and over-the-top gore as the kidnappers face Abigail’s mind control and rage. 

Abigail: The Tiny Ballerina Vampire

Abigail puts a fresh, clever spin on classic Universal monster legend by basing the story around a young, ballet-dancing vampire. 

The movie is believed to be connected to the 1936 Universal monster movie Dracula’s Daughter, suggesting that the young vampire Abigail may be Dracula’s own daughter. 

The 1936 movie was controversial at the time due to its LGBTQ+ implications and mature content. While being a dramatic departure from Dracula’s Daughter, Abigail does share some connections and parallels with the classic Universal Monsters film.

This comedic horror blend brings to mind films like Ready or Not (2019), also directed by Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, and the cult classic What We Do in the Shadows (2014).

The Kidnappers’ Deadly Mistake

A group of six crooks are tasked with kidnapping the 12-year-old girl named Abigail, a ballerina code-named ‘Tiny Dancer’, to extract a 50 million dollar ransom from her wealthy father. 

The kidnappers are told to keep Abigail company for 24 hours in a secluded mansion without any cellphones, but things start to go wrong as bad things start happening and someone seems to be picking them off in a gory fashion.

The movie is described as a clever and inventive take on the premise, with the filmmakers playing with the formula and weaving in some funny and ominous dialogue related to the absurdity of the situation. 

Abigail delivers what audiences expect from the genre, plus a few surprises, and manages to overcome the challenge of stretching the initial two-minute premise into a full-length film.

This new release is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the filmmaking collective known as Radio Silence, who gained recognition for their recent reboot of the Scream franchise. 

Abigail is part of Universal’s efforts to revive their classic monster lore, with Radio Silence lending their unique vision to the project.

While it may not break new ground or fully capitalize on its potential, Abigail delivers an enjoyable blend of horror, humour, and thrills.

Some more comedy horror films you can watch if you enjoyed Abigail:

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
A clever deconstruction of horror tropes with a healthy dose of humour, written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins and for those Angel fans, Amy Acker. 

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
This New Zealand mockumentary follows the lives of vampires who live together as roommates in modern-day Wellington. It’s a hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt look at the challenges of living an undead life.

Evil Dead II (1987)
A cult classic horror-comedy that combines gore and slapstick humour, directed by Sam Raimi.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)
This British comedy horror film is a classic for a reason. It follows Shaun, a man whose life is a mess until a zombie apocalypse forces him to get his act together to save his mum. Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Bill Nighy.

Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010)
This cult classic flips the script on the typical slasher film. Two well-meaning best friends on a camping trip are mistaken for serial killers by a group of college students.

Ready or Not (2019)
From the directors of Abigail comes this darkly comedic horror film about a bride who must play a deadly game of hide-and-seek on her wedding night with her new husband’s wealthy family.

Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)
This coming-of-age comedy horror film follows a group of Boy Scouts who must use their skills to survive a zombie apocalypse.

The Babysitter (2017)
A Netflix teen comedy horror film which follows a young boy whose babysitter turns out to be part of a satanic cult.

Freaky (2020)
This body-swap horror comedy follows a high school student who switches bodies with a serial killer. Starring Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton who also stars in Abigail.

Happy Death Day (2017)
A slasher film with a time-loop twist, following a college student who relives the day of her murder over and over again.

This list provides a good mix of classic films, cult favorites, and newer releases. With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find a comedy horror film that will tickle your funny bone and send shivers down your spine.