The 2023 film Abigail, directed by Melissa Vitello, is a horror-thriller that has vengeance and psychological drama in its plot. It was released on the 5th of December, 2023 after its production by Dark Gravity Studios and Dark Star Pictures’ distribution through Video on Demand (VOD). It details the gripping experiences of a teenage girl who has to exercise the cruel power of hate in the pursuit of revenge.
| Attribute | Description |
| Release Date | December 5, 2023 |
| Directed by | Melissa Vitello |
| Written by | Gunnar Garrett |
| Genre | Horror, Thriller, Slasher |
| Runtime | 88 minutes |
| Distributed by | Dark Star Pictures |
| Produced by | Dark Gravity Studios, Mooncastle Films, Ranch Hand Films |
Cast & Crew
The film’s cast includes a mix of rising stars and established actors. Here are some of the prominent members:
| Role | Actor/Actress |
| Abigail Cole | Ava Cantrell |
| Lucas Wright | Tren Reed-Brown |
| Eve | Hermione Lynch |
| Eddie | Gene Farber |
| Donna | Karimah Westbrook |
| Sheriff Moxey | Rob Gore |
| Victoria | Meredith Vivian |
| Daniel | Trace Talbot |
| Deputy Morgan | Yanni Walker |
Production Locations
Abigail is a film that takes place in a small conservative town situated in Alabama, and dates back in the year 1976. This provided Southern locations served an important purpose in achieving the needed suspense and claustrophobic feel of the story.
Budget Insights
Detailed figures, mostly due to confidentiality clauses, are not provided for Abigail. Nevertheless, it belongs to the category of Independent Films Production. It used a lower budget which is common for the low budget indie horror. This amount of money enabled the filmmakers to make good character based films that do not rely on causative effects instead of concentrating on action packed movies and special effects-stuffed sequences. Films of this genre often do not exceed 5 million in overall expenses which is very convenient in terms of speed up of the overall production and extension of the filming periods.
Plot Overview
Abigail follows the story of a troubled teen, Abigail Cole, who moves to a quiet town in Alabama with her mother to escape her violent past. Abigail soon befriends her bullied neighbor, Lucas Wright, and becomes obsessed with avenging him against his tormentors. The movie takes a dark turn as Abigail’s obsession drives her to extreme actions, leading to deadly consequences.
The plot effectively combines elements of the slasher genre with a psychological thriller, drawing viewers into the protagonist’s moral decline and intense desire for retribution.
Reception
Upon release, Abigail garnered mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praised its effective use of horror tropes and strong performances, particularly from Ava Cantrell, who plays the title role. Critics highlighted the film’s nostalgic 1970s setting and its slow-burn build-up, which heightens the tension.
- Loron Hays from Reel Reviews gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, complimenting its fresh take on the slasher genre.
- Albert Valentin from World Film Geek awarded it an A−, noting its “on-point execution” and overall entertainment value.
However, some critics like Jim Morazzini from Nerdly were less impressed, offering a 2.5 out of 5, criticizing the film for being “not particularly memorable or exciting”.
Production Crew
The film was the product of collaboration between a dynamic team of producers, editors, and technicians, who played key roles in bringing the horror thriller to life:
| Role | Crew Member |
| Director | Melissa Vitello |
| Writer | Gunnar Garrett |
| Cinematographer | Bryan Ricke |
| Music | Adele Etheridge Woodson |
| Editing | Michael S. Ojeda |
| Executive Producers | Bryan Cantrell, Gunnar Garrett |
Trivia & Easter Eggs
As a modern take on the teen horror genre, Abigail includes subtle nods to classic horror films from the 1970s, such as its setting and stylistic choices. Fans of slasher movies will appreciate its homage to iconic films like Halloween (1978) through the atmospheric tension and psychological underpinnings of the plot.