Film Journal 2024: Abigail
Directed by Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Seemed fitting that I saw this with a crowd of mostly middle grade teens. This is, I believe, the films primary target audience. It’s a YA horror-thriller that effectively pushes some boundaries on that front with its commitment to gore and mature themes (and parents, be aware that this does push some boundaries for that demographic). For me, there is a version of this film where the dialogue and plot are more intricately drawn towards an older demographic (I suppose I got this with Ready or Not), but given what this film is and who it’s made for, it’s a decent amount of fun. The further the film pushes into the chaos of its premise the more fun it gets, which makes for a decent payoff.
I should say, I managed to go into this one knowing nothing about it, not having seen a trailer. That definitely aided my viewing experience, because the first half leans into the most basic of reveals. Given that was a surprise for me I got more mileage from the build up than I think I otherwise would have. Even if you do know what this is about though, the commitment to the second half is more than worth the ride. It makes good use of its mostly single setting, practical set pieces and production design.
The Stories of my Life 