Abigail (2023) by Melissa Vitello

Director: Melissa Vitello

Year: 2023

Country: USA

Alternate Titles: N/A

Genre: Serial Killer

Plot:

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.

Review:

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.

Overview: **.5/5

A really fun and generally enjoyable genre effort, this one comes across well if only a few minor flaws that bring it down slightly from what happened previously. Those who are curious about this one or appreciate this style of genre fare will have a lot to like here while most others who aren’t fans of the style approached here should heed caution with this one.