There’s no question, the Radio Silence team is made up of incredibly talented and dedicated creators who, when they get behind a project, it’s sure to be something special. In this case, the blood-boiling vampire hunt is a bit sloppy, but surprisingly funny.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett his name is worth remembering. Together with their friends, the director couple founded the Radio Silence Productions In 2011, then in 2012 V/M/S break into the film business with their anthology horror. The guys originally made their videos for YouTube, then they wanted more and the V/M/S riding on its success, countless films were made. The most successful are perhaps those of 2022 and 2023 Scream movies there were, but I loved the 2019 one Who hid too.
Professionals work well and, what is most attractive to big studios, quickly.
That the Scream 6 they were able to send it to the cinema a little more than a year after the arrival of the previous part, it is still unbelievable to me. This is an unusually short time for a production of this size. Besides, they haven’t made a mistake as directors so far. So far.
Well, enough of the misunderstanding: they didn’t make a mistake this time either. The Abigail is a hell of a fun horror comedy. It’s not a classic comedy and it’s not a parody, but they clearly build on humor. The two writers joining the directing duo are lesser-known names in the industry, Stephen Shields and Guy Busick. In comparison, they put together an interesting story with mystery, a great twist and fun characters. The dialogues are a bit Shane Black-like, fast-paced, obscene, but sufficiently refreshing compared to the usual Hollywood productions.
The story sounds so brilliantly stupid, it’s a wonder someone else hasn’t tried it yet.
It doesn’t require a big budget and requires few actors, so the idea would be tempting for any studio. A group of criminals, Joey, Frank, Rickles, Sammy, Peter and Dean, kidnap a little girl, Abigail, so that their client, Lambert, can demand money from her rich father. As time goes by while they take care of the girl, the characters slowly start to fall away and we don’t know what’s going on.
The creators use great misrepresentations, but Radio Silence didn’t expect one thing. In the first trailer, the marketers shot the twist of the film, to which the viewers approx. they figure it out at the end of the first half hour. Indeed, Abigail is
(SPOILERS!!!)
a vampire, and they’re not holding the little girl, they’re the fresh meat in the grinder.
And we are talking about grinding here in abundance.
The film is not as heart-wrenchingly, shockingly bloody as it is Who was hiding, but the creators don’t go next door for artificial blood, there is enough carnage for that 18th ring. Despite the great premise, the soul of the film is clearly the cast, their interactions and the chemistry between them. Therefore, after the script, the second big red point goes to the team for the actors.
This is the third time he has worked with the director duo in the main role Melissa Barrera sparkling like Joey. Besides Dan Stevens In the role of Frank, he is perhaps the other biggest name who has been in his prime lately. This is his third film in a short time, a Godzilla x Kong and also horror Cuckoo after. The one who plays Abigail Alisha Weir despite his young age, he is not new to the profession and proves that not all child actors are terrible. He is amazingly good in the role of the vampire, he seemed to have a good time on the set.
We can even go through the cast, because almost only the eight main characters played in the entire production, and yet it didn’t look like a low-budget chamber horror.
William Catlett he plays Rickles, a trusted member of the team, who is very funny Kevin Durand play Peter, the lovable mamlas. He recently passed away tragically young To Angus Cloud this is his last role, even though his career has just started to take off. Most of them are him As Euphoria’s Fezco you may know him, but he appeared in several video clips. Kathryn Newtonas Sammy is humorous and entertaining. From Giancarlo Esposito but we don’t get enough, but here too he brings his usual “perpetual evil flame” character.
So the biggest problem with the film is clearly the marketing. I understand that this is a necessary evil, because if the ballerina vampire girl is not used in the advertising campaign, then a lot less people will sit down to see the film. However, the makers did a great job of hiding this excellent twist, so it’s a shame. If it had that “surprise wow” factor, I think it could have been the best horror movie of the year.
It wasn’t bad, in fact, it’s one of the most entertaining horror films of recent times, with both humor and carnage giving it a little extra.
Horrors are less prominent, if someone has seen at least one horror movie in his life, it will be hard to be surprised. There are one or two jumpscares, but they are not terrible, the focus is more on the dialogues and the characters. And Abigail, whose acting alone is worth watching the film.
Technically, everything is five stars. The abandoned, old mansion chosen as the location is very atmospheric and varied. Few locations and actors, I think the costs were also reduced, which is always good from a horror perspective. But you don’t feel that the makers have saved on anything. The CGI works, there was nothing eye-popping, we see everything we need to, even the digital blood spatters didn’t bother me, because afterwards the wounds and blood pools were really present, not just copied like a John Wick 4 case for example.
The music was composed by a real Hollywood professional, Brian Tyler.
We could meet his name in connection with many projects, starting with small horrors, he also worked in real super productions. Here, too, we can thank him for one or two lasting moments, for example, Abigail and Sammy’s joint “ballet” turned out to be quite memorable. Aaron Morton and the cameraman brought his usual industrial work. His filmography is also very illustrious for those who have seen it The first omenor the There is no one to save you, you know what to expect. Nice pictures, skillfully photographed.
It could have been the horror of the year, but I understand that the “surprise” had to be spoiled. I hope that the Radio Silence it will be successful now because
Hollywood needs such professionals. Those who get the most out of even a silly idea, quickly, cheaply and fun.
I say: let’s note it Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett name. Abigail can be seen in cinemas from Thursday.
