Listening to the sound of the crickets in this movie as they call out into the night says so much about the impact of violence in Abigail. It’s going to be sudden. It’s going to be unexpected and, of course, if you are paying attention, it is the only probable course of action as there really is no running from yourself.
Just know that when the crickets are silenced, it is deafening.
This, of course, is the opening sound as one young couple comes to a stop on a gravel road in a van. The sound the insects make continues to be heard through their playful banter - she’s taking too long to roll a joint and he has to piss - and then, as he gets out of the truck leaving the girl alone to continue rolling, the sudden violence which silences the crickets on this dark night hits hard.
Over and over again by a masked assailant.
Abigail, directed by Melissa Vitello, is operating on new levels of terror as this dreadful night of unexpected violence is only part of a celebrated new start for Abigail (Ava Cantrell) and her mom. It makes sense in the context of the movie, trust me, but, BE WARNED, this tale has a very dark side which is hinted at by Abigail’s willingness to go to the extremes when helping out another person.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
It’s 1976 and Abigail and her mother have just moved to Alabama for a life away from the past they so desperately want to leave behind. Abigail’s father is no longer with them. That’s all the explanation we get about their past with him, but it's enough to satisfy us as she starts a friendship with Lucas (Tren Reed-Brown), the boy next door. He’s quiet and lonely for his age, but Abigail is going to help him out with some problems . . . namely Daniel, the local bully.
Steely-eyed in its tempered pacing and certainly on-point with its take on the slasher genre, Abigail is full of surprises. The cast is strong and the story only hints at what Abbie is capable of, yet everything is developed for maximum impact as her true nature is revealed and an unlikely friendship established.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:
Director: Melissa Vitello
Writer: Gunnar Garrett
Cast: Ava Cantrell; Tren Reed-Brown; Hermione Lynch
Genre: Horror
Tagline: Bullies Beware.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Dark Star Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: December 5, 2023 (digital/DVD)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: December 5, 2023
Synopsis: In 1976 Alabama, Abigail and her mom move to a new town for a fresh start. A precocious teen, Abigail befriends the lonely boy next door and soon stands up to his bullies. As she takes him under her wing, the secrets of her past begin to surface. Though they take on the world together, he discovers she may have a more disturbing side.
