Abigail - Movie Review

(Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)

Whenever you hear the words 'vampire movie', the images that instantly pop into your head are either that of the "Twilight" variety, or the "Interview with the Vampire" variety. Rarely does Hollywood portray these suckers as anything else beside romantic, brooding anti-heroes who'd love nothing more than to have someone to talk to and pour their feelings into.

Enter "Abigail".

It's time to forget about those brooding blood bags – "Abigail" knows exactly what it is: a blood-soaked thrill ride with a healthy dose of self-aware humor. From Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the directors of the dark comedy horror cult film "Ready or Not", "Abigail" is another delicious mash-up of genres, this time swapping the satire for pure pulpy adrenaline. Sure, the characters won't win personality contests, but their simplicity becomes a kind of twisted asset. In a movie where survival is the only goal, it's almost refreshing not to get bogged down with too much weepy backstories and emotional baggage.

Dan Stevens absolutely steals the show with his mix of wide-eyed panic and cocky bravado, as he perfectly embodies the overconfident guy destined to meet a grisly end. This is the same guy who brought irresistible charm to 'Godzilla vs Kong: The New Empire', and he proves once again he can turn even the silliest material into pure entertainment.

Melissa Barrera still proves that she's a capable Scream Queen, as she brings the fierceness she's shown in her short stint in the "Scream" universe to this joint, and the film is better for it. Major props also have to be given to Alisha Weir as the titular vampire youngster, as she holds her own against her adult co-star both in physicality and in snark. It's a joy seeing the entire cast play off of each other, which also includes Kathryn Newton as a rich-kid hacker, Kevin Durand as a muscle-bound idiot, and Giancarlo Esposito as the leader of the pack who may or may not have his own schemes in this wild ride.

If you want a horror movie fueled by dark humor, frenetic chases, and the sheer joy of a perfectly executed jump scare, 'Abigail' is a wickedly good time.

CINEGEEK RATING: A