Joey is a part of a team tasked with kidnapping the daughter of some mogul, who we actually meet towards the end of the movie. Anyways, the team get away with the kidnapping by the skin of their teeth, and then find the have to “babysit” the pre-teen daughter for 24 hours. Luckily they are installed in a mansion that might just need a spring clean, and have pretty much an open bar and enough food to sink an oil tanker. We gradually learn more about the individuals in Joey’s team and their individual motivations, which was a nice touch for mine, and are settling in for perhaps a psychological horror flick. Unfortunately, it appears an enforcer might be in the building aiming to take the team out, or is it one of their own? We’re talking double crosses galore, and just in case you are getting comfortable a U-turn into vampire territory. Hold onto your Reg Grundies, we are in for a heck of a wild ride here.

This one was a request from a reader, actually a demand, and what the heck the movie was on Netflix so decided to succumb to the pressure. Up front, before viewing hadn’t watched the trailers or read any reviews, so went in on full virgin mode. Which perhaps is going to show in this review, I didn’t have any preconceived notions of what was going to happen, and heck watched it late night with the rest of the house safely bedded down for the evening. Did have the company of the house cat, not the most-friendly critter in the world, and she wander in to the study from time to time in pursuit of some weird feline logic, which actually coincided with a scare scene each time, so heck wasn’t getting comfortable at any stage. So just pointing out my reception of the movie was probably better than most people who knew what was going to happen thanks to the usual more trailers than you can poke a stick at as the beginning credits rolled.

First up I actually liked the entire team of crims involved in the kidnapping. Each has a distinct personality, with their own weaknesses and strengths, which I guess end of day didn’t help them overly as the whip went down. We have the jock who isn’t the brightest tool in the shed, a valley girl – just trying to paint a picture here, and of course our lead who seems to be the most capable of the group. No not talking a Girl Boss here, the movie would be rating about 0/10 if that was the case, but someone capable with their own issues and strengths.

Our Directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, have their horror vibe happening in solid fashion. We are talking vampires here, and apart from Tik-Tok subscribers and posters everyone knows that we are heavily in Western mythology here. You know, made up shit about critters that don’t exist. Anyway, how do you go from disbelief to suspicion of disbelief, you start on the straight and narrow then add in the spice bit by bit, gradually turning the viewer into a fan of your film and not questioning that we are watching some space out stuff. Engross the viewer and you have the game in the bag before things go crazy. For mine the Directors are nailing the requirements here, as the vampirism starts worming its way into the film, gradually drawing the viewer in, before going full on blood bath.

Okay having said that there is a fundamental issue with the movie for the gorehounds out there, the movie is more in line with The Evil Dead, original, than a blood bath going for the juggler. If you have heard the term “splatter punk” and the idea of viscera so over the top that it descends into humour, then you are pretty much in the right state of mind. There’s blood and gore to the extreme here, well okay no intestines but whatever, and the Directors are rubbing the viewers eyes in the red. So don’t expect to get out of this movie without being splattered with the red stuff, and having a huge grin on your dial while you are being drenched. You have been warned, for mine it was a lot of fun, and I was nodding my head in approval. 

The humour isn’t restricted to the gore either, there was on going jokes throughout, the discussion of vampirism will have you grinning as our protagonists discover a lot of what popular cultural defines as aspects of vampirism are completely incorrect – including crucifixes and garlic, and other aspects are correct, i.e. ability to fly and regenerate from injury quickly. So don’t go in to this one without knowing you are in a comedy rather than a pure bone chiller.

I was also wildly amused by the character who is bitten by a vampire, and who then is proven not to be vampire, only to sort of be a vampire. Could probably have put that better, but heck it is pretty much how the plot rolls. Loved the character being referred to at one stage as “Twilight”.

Final thoughts here on the vampires on show, we get two. Without giving things away we have perhaps one of the more unique vampire antagonists seen in quite a while. The character would not have been out of place in 30 Days of Night. For sure this movie is worth catching for this character alone, you are going to have a lot of fun there, assuming you like ballet of course. We're not talking Sir Elton John's <em>Tiny Dancer</em> here, more your ballerina from Hell.

Abigail romps along like a good Friday night at the Sombrero Lounge when someone else is paying for drinks. The pacing is spot on, the action is quick and brutal throughout, and the dialogue shows writers that actually know their craft. I am truly impressed with this movie, that came out of nowhere to be a surprise hit this year. Naturally this movie gets a full recommendation to readers who love some horror in their comedy, or perhaps better some comedy in their horror. I was sold on this one, and for sure it’s well worth the time spent watching. Mark this one down kids, a movie not to miss, a new take on the vampire saga with a nice ending surprisingly.