Abigail

Abigail is a 2024 American vampire horror comedy film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett from a screenplay written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick. A reimagining of the 1936 Universal Classic Monsters film Dracula's Daughter, the film follows a group of kidnappers who capture the daughter of a powerful underworld figure and demand $50 million for her release, unaware the young girl is actually a vampire. It stars Alisha Weir as the eponymous daughter of Count Dracula, alongside Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Will Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, and Giancarlo Esposito.
A reboot of Dracula's Daughter was announced to be in development in April 2023, with Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett attached as directors, and Shields and Busick hired to write the screenplay. It was also announced that the film would be a co-production between Bettinelli-Olpin, Gillett, and Chad Villella's Radio Silence Productions, James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, and William Sherak's Project X Entertainment, and Tripp Vinson's Vinson Films. Barrera was cast that same month, with Weir, Stevens, Newton, Durand, Cloud, and Catlett hired the next month, and Esposito rounding out the main cast in June.
Principal photography began that month in Dublin, Ireland, but was suspended at the beginning of July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming resumed at the end of that month and wrapped in December. This was the last film that Cloud worked on during his lifetime, as he died on July 31, 2023, shortly after wrapping his scenes; the film is dedicated to him. Brian Tyler, a frequent collaborator of Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, was hired to compose and conduct the film's score.
Abigail had its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival on April 7, 2024, and was theatrically released in the United States by Universal Pictures on April 19, 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $38 million worldwide.
== Plot ==
Six criminals capture ballet dancer Abigail, the daughter of a powerful underworld figure within New York City, and bring her to a secluded mansion upstate.
The group, led by informant Lambert, is told not to disclose any personal information amongst themselves or to Abigail. Using only aliases derived from the Rat Pack, the group consists of former Army medic and recovering drug addict Joey; former NYPD detective Frank; wealthy hacker Sammy; sociopathic driver Dean; Marine sniper Rickles; and dimwitted Canadian mob enforcer Peter. After 24 hours, each will receive a $7 million check so long as Abigail is kept safe. Joey is sent to watch over her and, as they bond, Joey reveals that she has a son. When Joey leaves, Abigail warns her about what will transpire during the night. 
After Dean unsuccessfully flirts with Sammy, he enters the basement and is dragged away by an unseen assailant. Sammy hears his screams and investigates only to find Dean's headless corpse. Frank confronts Abigail and demands to know who her father is, finding out that Abigail's father is Kristof Lazar, a feared crimelord. Rickles tries to leave, but the home's security system activates and bars them inside. As they look for another way out, Rickles is mauled to death. Frank tells Peter to kill Abigail only for Joey to intervene. During the altercation, Abigail suddenly transforms into a vampire, causing the group to flee in terror. 
Distressed, the group discusses how to kill Abigail, as bullets do not physically harm her. Frank, Peter and Sammy find Abigail dancing with Dean's body and use garlic, stakes, and Christian crosses, but each prove unsuccessful. They regroup once more, and Joey suggests using a tranquilizer Lambert had given them earlier for the kidnapping. They manage to tranquilize Abigail and lock her in an elevator, though not before she bites Sammy on the arm. 
Upon awakening, Abigail reveals she knows the kidnappers' identities and that Lambert set them up for her to kill because they all wronged Kristof. In turn, Joey deduces Abigail has been killing her father's enemies in an attempt to win his love. They leave Frank in charge of watching her; Abigail easily breaks out of the makeshift cage and starts strangling him. Joey rips wooden planks off a window and exposes Abigail to the sunlight, which turns out to be her only weakness. With only hours left before nightfall, the group splits up to find a way out. However, Sammy suddenly turns into a vampire under Abigail's control and feeds on Peter before killing him. Abigail then has Sammy attack Frank and Joey, forcing Joey to destroy Sammy with reflected sunlight.
Hoping to deactivate the security measures, Joey and Frank find the mansion's control room and run into Lambert, who is revealed as a vampire. Lambert explains he was turned by Abigail for betraying her father and offers to turn Frank to help him kill Abigail. Frank accepts, but stakes Lambert after he turns and overpowers Abigail before drinking her blood, enhancing his new abilities. He then tells Joey that he intends to turn her into a vampire under his control after biting her. During the fight, Abigail rescues Joey and the two team up, eventually managing to stake the inexperienced Frank. With Frank dead, Joey is freed from the vampire's curse until Abigail's father shows up and threatens her. Abigail manages to stand up to her father and reveals that Joey saved her life; he relents and permits Joey to leave. Upon departing the estate to reunite with her son, Joey treats herself to a lollipop.
== Cast ==
== Music ==
Brian Tyler composed the film's score; he collaborated with Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett on prior projects. The directors commissioned Jean Dawson for an original song, "Burn My Tongue", which plays over the closing credits. The soundtrack album, featuring Tyler's score and "Burn My Tongue", was released on April 19.
===Soundtrack===
== Release ==
Abigail had its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival on April 7, 2024, and was released by Universal Pictures in the United States on April 19, 2024. The film was released on premium video on demand by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on May 7, 2024.
== Reception ==
===Box office ===
, Abigail has grossed $15 million in the United States and Canada and $5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $20 million.
In the United States and Canada, Abigail was released alongside The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Spy × Family Code: White, and was projected to gross $12–15 million from 3,384 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $4 million on its first day, including $1 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $10.2 million, finishing second at the box office behind holdover Civil War.
===Critical response===
 Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.
Tim Robey of The Telegraph awarded the movie four stars out of five, saying: "Alisha Weir goes impressively off the deep end in this horror-thriller about six criminals who get more than they bargained for."
== External links ==
*
*
== References ==
Category:2024 films
Category:2024 crime films
Category:2020s crime comedy films
Category:2020s dance films
Category:2020s monster movies
Category:2024 horror thriller films
Category:American black comedy films
Category:American comedy horror films
Category:American dance films
Category:American horror thriller films
Category:American vampire films
Category:Crime horror films
Category:Films about ballet
Category:Films about child abduction in the United States
Category:Films about father–daughter relationships
Category:Films affected by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike
Category:Films directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Category:Films produced by James Vanderbilt
Category:Films scored by Brian Tyler
Category:Films set in country houses
Category:Films set in New York City
Category:Films shot in Dublin (city)
Category:Films with screenplays by Guy Busick
Category:Dracula films
Category:Reboot films
Category:Universal Monsters
Category:Universal Pictures films
Category:Vampire comedy films
Category:4DX films
Category:Films starring Melissa Barrera
Category:Films starring Alisha Weir
Category:Films starring Will Catlett
Category:Films starring Kathryn Newton
Category:Films starring Kevin Durand
Category:Films starring Angus Cloud
Category:Films starring Giancarlo Esposito
Category:Films starring Matthew Goode
Category:Films
Category:Pages containing Mature Content