Rating: ★★★★★

Plot: A group of would-be criminals kidnaps the 12-year-old daughter of a powerful underworld figure. Holding her for ransom in an isolated mansion, their plan starts to unravel when they discover their young captive is actually a bloodthirsty vampire.

Film: Abigail

Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett 

Writer: Stephen Shields and Guy Busick

Starring: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito 

Abigail has been on my radar since it was first released in UK cinemas earlier this year. Nowadays, trailers seem to offer too much to the audience and Abigail is one of those films that the less you know going into it, the more satisfying it'll be. With a musical theatre child star, two scream queens, and the directing duo that brought us Ready or Not at its helm, I was certain it wouldn't disappoint. 

On the surface, Abigail seems like your standard thriller. However, it quickly descends into what can only be described as genre crossing at its very best. From thriller, to horror, to comedy, to slasher - Abigail has a sprinkle of everything. Except romance. Probably not the best film pick if you're looking for a light-hearted rom-com.

The story follows a group of mismatched criminals who have kidnapped a 12-year-old girl and are promised a handsome sum of money for doing so. However, we quickly learn that Abigail (Alisha Weir) isn't quite what she seems. She's a vampire ballerina. And yes, it's every bit as ridiculously brilliant as it sounds. The group of criminals are in fact, unsuspecting playthings for Abigail - and the game of Cat & Mouse begins, with each member being picked off one by one...

From the gore, to the ballet, to the comedy, to the stereotypical characters - everything is very over-the-top; which is something you'll be familiar with if you've watched any of Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett's previous films. While Melissa Barrera's character is clearly supposed to be the one we're rooting for, I surprisingly found myself instead rooting for Abigail. Alisha Weir steals the show as she portrays the equally terrifying and wickedly funny child vampire. Having first seen her as Matilda, this role truly allows her to show off her versatility as a young actor.

Lengthier horror films are becoming increasingly popular, and Abigail comes in at just under two hours. While it's longer than I usually like my horror films, the film is so enjoyable that it almost still doesn't feel quite enough.

Kathryn Newton is always a standout for me in whatever she's in, and she didn't disappoint in her role as the ditzy blonde. Kevin Durand is the brawn of the gang and his lack of any kind of self-awareness often brought the most laughs in the film. Dan Stevens plays an ex-detective and makes the perfect character we love to hate. His last ten minutes or so in the film are particularly brilliant.

If you're looking for a horror comedy to truly immerse yourself into, Abigail is the film for you. Its over-the-top, ridiculous and wickedly funny; in the very best way. I may just have found my horror film of 2024 in Abigail.