Abigail

Kenny's Movie Review

"Abigail" (2023)

Available tomorrow On Demand

I'd like to thank Dark Star pictures for providing me a screener link for review

In 1976 a troubled teen befriends her bullied neighbor, seeking revenge on his tormentors, but her obsession turns deadly.

This movie is really good and intense, the film stars Ava Cantrell as "Abigail" and Tren Reed-Brown as "Lucas" as 2 troubled teens in Alabama where the local bullies pick on "Lucas" and Abigail befriends him and helps him overcome the bullies.

The relationship between Abigail and her Mom played by Hermione Lynch is a strange dynamic that really is odd and strange, but the real story here Ava Cantrell as "Abigail" she gives a amazing performance a real breakthrough performance

I really enjoyed this film and the performances were truly incredible

4 Whoppers out of 5 Whoppers 🍔🍔🍔🍔

Highly recommend this movie

Like to thank Dark Star Pictures for providing me the screener for review.

Abagail is actually quite good if you look at the underlying theme. Ava Cantral carries this film well for being a new comer to a starring role. True, this is a low budget horror film and some of the scenes are way over the top, but I gave it a 8 because Ava makes the film and she is beliveable as a funny, sadistic sick teen. Trey is OK in his supporting role but stuggles I think with developing his character as an abusive kid. He does well in some scenes then seems amaturish in others like he does not know how to play the scene. No offense but he may be a less experienced actor than Ava. I recomend this film for a late night pop corn flick. It is watchable all the way through and it has some funny moments.

Arriving in a small Alabama town, a woman and her neighbors strike up a friendship that helps him to overcome the bullies that relentlessly torment him for his home life, but the more she hangs out with him the more her homicidal tendencies come to the forefront unleashing a wave of violence against the bullies.

This was a really solid if somewhat flawed genre effort. When this one ends up working well is the way this one builds up the eventual explosion of violence that emerges as we get to know more about the character and her central relationships. Her troubled background that necessitated the need for the move and how the relationship with her mother is entirely based on combative disrespect that goes in a complete counter to with the neighbor where it comes across as a budding mentorship involving how to stand up for himself against the bullies which borders on coercion and homicidal tendencies. This setup manages to work itself up into an appropriately enjoyable and twist-laden finale where the series of reveals and gruesome outcomes are enough to make the film quite likable over some detrimental factors. The main issue with this one is the fact that it spends forever waiting around for something to happen as the people in this town are blind morons oblivious to what's going on around them. The psychotic tendencies of the teen bullies are so apparent it's hard to believe they were blind to what happened, and that goes equally to the drastically uninspired outbursts of violence that paint her as just as violent only she's doing it for the betterment of his life which should go hand-in-hand with the background we have on her with her mother that there's something off so all of this leaves the film to feel like it's dragging with these elements in place. As well, there's also the lack of violence or gore on display as the timid nature of the interactions makes everything feel rather tame as a result which is another area that holds this down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

A mother & daughter from California move to a semi-rural area near Huntsville, Alabama, where the teen girl (Ava Cantrell) befriends a black misfit (Tren Reed-Brown). Havoc ensues.

"Abigail" (2023) is part coming-of-age drama and part thriller/slasher. It explores the same interesting themes as Nicolas Cage's "The Old Way" from eleven months prior, although that's a Western. It's comparable to "White Rabbit" (2013) and "The Rage: Carrie 2," just not as entertaining or rewarding. I'd say it's almost on par with "Devil's Island" from two years earlier; however, if you hated that one, you'll hate this even more.

The bottom line is that it's a technically well-made indie and worth checking out for those interested. Petite Ava Cantrell is a highlight and I respect a production that has the confidence to take its time (which others might interpret as boring).

Is what the girl does in the story unbelievable, as some complain? Not if you know the tree from which the fruit fell and she trains in her personal time (even if it's not shown). Filmmakers aren't obligated to spell everything out; they respect the viewer to put the pieces together.

It runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in Oakdale, California, which is 31 miles southeast of Stockton in the middle of the Central Valley (more specifically, the northeast part of San Joaquin Valley).

GRADE: B-

Not the amazing breakout these other reviewers claim. Makes me wonder which Abigail movie they were watching. A dull waste of time. Serious lack of character development and misses the mark again and again. It seems like they had a a good set up but lost it in the weak dialogue and the cliche of an adult acting like a teen.

Cantrell has a few moments but overall not believable as the disturbed teen. Brown gives a decent performance but feels as if the director left it all up to him. The sets are a weak attempt at period but at least they did get the wardrobe right.

Key to a good horror is making the crazy believable for even just a moment. Unfortunately this film lost us on the opening drive with flat dialogue and no energy. I don't want to spoil the totally predictable ending but the Father element is just silly. Please don't attempt a sequel.