Abigail

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Abigail follows a crew of criminals, including Melissa Barrera’s Joey, Dan Stevens’ Frank, and Kevin Durand’s Peter, as they agree to watch over a little girl (Alisha Weir’s Abigail) being held for ransom. Filmmakers Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, armed with a script by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, deliver a mostly entertaining (albeit somewhat erratic) horror endeavor that fares better than one might’ve anticipated, as the movie boasts (and benefits from) a slow-burn first half that effectively establishes the various protagonists and the seemingly straightforward situation in which they find themselves – with the engaging atmosphere heightened by a series of affable performances (eg Stevens’ unapologetically larger-than-life turn remains an ongoing highlight) and several top-notch sequences and interludes. (There is, in terms of the latter, a terrific scene wherein Barrera’s Joey makes a series of successful guesses regarding her compatriots’ less-than-savory pasts.) And while the 108 minute running time does result in a handful of narrative lulls, Abigail eventually progresses into a fun, briskly-paced final third that’s been jam-packed with surprising (and impressively brutal) set-pieces – which, when combined with a satisfying finale, ultimately cements the picture’s place as a better-than-average contemporary horror movie.

*** out of ****