Abigail is a 2024 American horror comedy film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett from a screenplay written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick. Based on and a reimagining of the 1936 Universal Classic Monsters film Dracula's Daughter, the film 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 by Universal Pictures in the United States on April 19, 2024.
Plot[]
Six criminals capture the ballet dancer Abigail, the daughter of a powerful underworld figure within New York, and bring her to a secluded mansion. The group, led by informant Lambert, is told not to disclose any personal information. Using 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 they complete the only task: ensuring Abigail's safety. Joey is sent to watch over Abigail and, as they bond, Joey reveals that she has a son. As 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 but only finds a headless corpse. Frank confronts Abigail and demands to know who her father is, finding out that Abigail's father is Kristof Lazar, a feared crime-lord. 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, Joey stops him, during the altercation Abigail suddenly transforms into a vampire, causing the group to run away in terror.
Distressed, the group discusses how to kill Abigail, as gunshots don't harm her. Three of the four find Abigail dancing with Dean's body and use garlic, stakes, and crosses, but each prove unsuccessful. They regroup once more, and Joey suggests using the tranquilizer Lambert had given them earlier for the kidnapping. They split up again and Sammy falls into a swimming pool filled with Abigail's former victims – proving that the ransom plan was all an elaborate trap. The four manage to find Abigail and tranquilize her, though not before she manages to bite Sammy.
Upon awakening, Abigail reveals each surviving kidnapper's identity and backstory. They leave Frank in charge of watching her; Abigail easily breaks out of her makeshift cage and starts choking him. Joey rips wooden planks off a window and exposes her to sunlight, which turns out to be her weakness. With only hours left before nightfall, the group splits up to find a way out. 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 her 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. Joey resists Frank's control and teams up with Abigail, eventually managing to stake him. With Frank dead, Joey is free from the vampire's curse. She begins to leave, but Abigail's father enters. He threatens her, but when Abigail stands up to him and reveals that she saved her life, he relents and permits her to leave. Joey departs the estate to find her son, treating herself to a lollipop.
List of deaths[]
| Name | Cause of Death | Killer | On Screen | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | Decapitated | Abigail | No | |
| Rickles | Mauled | Abigail | No | |
| Peter | Bitten/Bled Out | Sammy | Yes | Controlled by Abigail |
| Sammy | Exploded/Sunlight Exposure | Joey | Yes | |
| Lambert | Impaled in the chest | Frank | Yes | |
| Frank | Impaled in the chest | Abigail and Joey | Yes |
Cast[]
- Melissa Barrera as Joey
- Dan Stevens as Frank
- Alisha Weir as Abigail Lazar
- Will Catlett as Rickles
- Kathryn Newton as Sammy
- Kevin Durand (US) and Brett Goldstein (UK) as Peter
- Angus Cloud as Dean
- Giancarlo Esposito as Lambert
- Matthew Goode as Kristof Lazar
Gallery[]
