‘Blood-soaked and bonkers’ new vampire ballerina horror starring Downton Abbey icon gets rave reviews-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

A new horror icon looks set to pirouette into our hearts as Abigail receives rave reviews following its world premiere.

Closing Overlook Film Festival, the ballerina vampire flick directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin has stunned film fans, with many stressing how bloody and downright wild it is.

Starring Dan Stevens, Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton, Giancarlo Esposito, and Alisha Weir in the title role, Abigail sees a group of criminals kidnap the 12-year-old daughter of a powerful underworld figure.

However, as they hold her ransom in an isolated mansion, their plan descends into chaos as they discover the youngster they’ve held captive is a bloodthirsty vampire, and the predators soon become her prey.

The trailer for the film sees Abigail hack, slash, and jeté her way through her adversaries with ease – and UK fans don’t have long to wait to witness the carnage with the film set for release on April 19.

Following the Overlook premiere, fans took to social media to share how fun yet gory the film is, with some already hailing it as one of the best films of 2024.

Abigail has received its world premiere at Overlook Film Festival and fans are loving it (Picture: Universal Pictures)

Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens is among the star-studded cast (Picture: Universal Pictures)

The film sees a group of prisoners mistakenly hold a 12-year-old vampire hostage (Picture: Universal Pictures)

Former Scream star Melissa Barrera also appears (Picture: Universal Pictures)

SlashFilm critic BJ Colangelo wrote: ‘HAHAHAHA HOLY S**T. #Abigail just set the bar as the most fun you can have with a horror movie in 2024. Absolutely perfect performances, laugh out loud moments of humor, and tons of twists… or should I say pirouettes ABIGAIL IS HORROR ON POINTE.’

Collider writer Perri Nemiroff added: ‘Abigail is MY kinda movie. (And in general, more and more convinced Radio Silence’s horror sensibilities heavily align with my own with each and every movie they make.) It’s a blood-soaked bonkers good time.

‘A clever spin on the vampire genre filled with loads of wild set pieces and gore, further fueled by a perfectly cast electric ensemble. Can already tell this is going to be a frequent rewatch for me.’

Writer and podcaster Sharai Bohannon agreed with the high praise for the film, writing: ‘Not to sound like a dance mom, but #Abigail just danced her way into my current top 10 of the year.’

Whitlock and Pope’s Andrew Pope dubbed the film ‘gleeful and bloody’, writing: ‘Kill them slowly, tiny dancer…! ABIGAIL is purely entertaining horror. It takes the knowing gothic escapades of READY OR NOT and applies them to a story of some ‘Usual Suspects’ crooks vs a vampire ballerina. Gleeful and bloody.’

Film critic and YouTube personality Cody Leach compared the film to vampire classics The Lost Boys and Fron Dusk Till Dawn, saying: ‘Abigail is everything I want in a vampire flick: great characters, big laughs, and gallons of blood! The most fun I’ve had in the theater this year and I’m happy this sub-genre is making a big return. If you like Lost Boys and From Dusk Till Dawn, sink your teeth into this one!’

Many praised the performance of Weir as the creature in the tutu, with NightTide Magazine editor Mo Moshaty posting: ‘It’s high stakes, gore and grand jétés for #AbigailtheMovie!🩰🩸🩰 Akin to Clue x Usual Suspects with body horror & bite, it sinks its teeth into a cat & mouse panic room scenario. Alisha Weir is a force as the titular killer ballerina and absolutely terrifying.’

Many praised the film’s gratuitous gore and fun narrative (Picture: Universal Pictures)

Others hailed it one of the top horror films of 2024 (Picture: Universal Pictures)

Matilda’s Alisha Weir appears in the titular role (Picture: Universal Pictures)

Speaking ahead of the film’s release, Downton Abbey star Stevens opened up on what it was like to work with Matilda actor Weir on the bloody production.

‘She is the sweetest, loveliest character. One of the most professional people I’ve ever worked with, just absolutely on point with everything she’s asked to do, whether it’s gymnastics, acrobatics, ballet, you know, being a scary, tiny vampire with teeth in,’ he told JoBlo.

She’s just completely sort of committed and unfazed by everything. And I think we were all just in awe of her.

‘By the end, there was a real sense that we were sort of witnessing the dawn of a very exciting career there. She’s got a very good head on her shoulders, and I have no doubt is going to go and do incredible things.’

Abigail is released in UK cinemas on April 19.

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