Abigail Movie Explained (SPOILERS)

[@ThorogoodFilms]

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[@alexandriaceballos1938]

I have a feeling this isn’t the last time will be seeing Abigail and her father, especially with the ballerina vampire has shown some interest in Caleb. What’s worst, Lazar has shown interest in Joey after kissing the top of her hand and giving her a head start in fleeing the mansion.

[@TomBrzezicki]

And doesn't Abigail smile and say, "See you around, Joey", just as Joey is leaving. That was my cue that an "Abigail 2" might be in the works. But they'll have to move fast, because Alisha Weir is already 14 years old and won't be able to portray that 'lost little girl' persona, that is the key to the appeal of the Abigail character, for very much longer. Too bad we have to grow up.

[@alexandriaceballos1938]

@@TomBrzezicki That’s what I was thinking, especially with the film becoming instantly popular during the few weeks of its release.

[@danielhainline8882]

Abigail reminds me of Eleanor aka Ellie Creed in the "Pet Sematary" remake. Ellie wore a ballet costume and danced in it when she was alive. Zombie Ellie wore the dress again and she danced but was quite clumsy.

[@roderick8167]

Yeah this is the main reason I can see a sequel or prequel not happening because Alisha Weir is already growing up fast and if they want to make a sequel or prequel they need to hurry up and do it because I'm sure by the next year or two Alisha Weir will be too old to play child vampire Abigail again

[@danielhainline8882]

@@roderick8167 they had Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther in Orphan: First Kill about 2 years ago. Julia Stiles and the rest of the cast stood on boxes and wore Kiss boots so they towered over her. They used younger, shorter actresses as stand ins for her also.

[@lessismore8533]

Not huge on the Vampire genre with the exception of Buffy, but I enjoyed this film. I LOVED how Joey kept her pinky promise to Abby even after discovering her true identity. Hope there’s a sequel

[@TomBrzezicki]

That was actually a touching moment when Abigail is struggling with Frank and reaches out her hand with the pinky finger extended as a signal to Joey to remember her pinky promise. And then Joey responds like the caring protective parent she wants to be.

[@rbrojas2040]

"Stake through the heart?" "Yeah, well, who wouldn't that kill?" ~ Dracula

[@Turtlemmd]

😂

[@tgabz]

great video! i'd also like to add that abigail is practicing "swan lake" at the beginning of the film, hinting at her duality (innocent young girl vs bloodthirsty vampire, white swan vs black swan)

[@ThorogoodFilms]

Thank you! Ah great point!

[@TomBrzezicki]

I saw it as a reference to the original 1931 "Dracula" film, which also played the overture to Swan Lake as the soundtrack to its opening titles.

[@tgabz]

@@TomBrzezicki i have never watched this film, but both things can be true, honestly

[@TomBrzezicki]

@@tgabz Agreed! I'm not really a horror film fan, and I went to see "Abigail" mainly on impulse, but I was glad I did, as Alisha Weir really sinks her teeth into the title role!

[@tgabz]

@@TomBrzezicki i looooved all of the cast, but alisha weir was definitely the standout to me, so talented at such a young age!

[@meganshaw1949]

It’s possible that Lazar might be looking for a mother figure for Abigail. In some vampire films where vampire children are involved, the father is often looking for a mother for his children or for his coven. And it’s interesting that Interview With The Vampire is brought-up in this film, as one of the themes to that film is parenthood and the reason as to why the vampire Lestat turned the little girl into a vampire was to get his lover Louis to stay with him. Another factor to mention is that in another vampire film titled Bordello Of Blood, the brother of the lead heroine was named Caleb and that he was a troublemaker who became a vampire. Caleb in Bordello Of Blood was played by Corey Feldmen, who was also in Lost Boys- another vampire film with the theme of parenting. Lastly the theme of ballet in the film might also be a nod to the fact that the 1931 Universal version of Dracula heavily used it. The opening music to the Universal version was the music to Swan Lake.

[@SakalbongTestis]

yeah and that relaxed expression of joey before she drove away from the mansion that's telling something

[@nicksmyth4050]

I’ve always wanted to see a horror movie like this, where the villain is irredeemably evil and never gets a comupance, but it’s not at the price of the lead. The lead has a happy ending, the villain just goes through JUST ENOUGH growth to not be redeemed but to let them go

[@myria2834]

You got the candy part wrong. She didn't "allow" herself a lollipop at the end, she uses candy as a means of controlling her addiction throughout the entire movie. She thought she ran out of candies mid way through. (you see her dig into the bag of candies and ball it up in frustration when it is empty.) The sucker was the same one she had started on at the beginning, before getting in the van. She finds that sucker just after getting in the van again at the end and uses it to help release her tension after everything she has been through before driving away. Edit: Also, Abigail was working on her own. Her father was not involved in any part of it. Abigail was doing this to try and get her father's attention, not under his orders. He only learned there was something going on when Lambert call him to try and lay a trap. Her entire reason for hunting people who screwed up, stole from him, or betrayed him was because he was an absent father.

[@BookshelfQBattler]

A good movie but I imagine it was tough to come up with a good ending. The villain is a kid, well a 400 year old kid, at any rate, you don't want to see a kid killed in a movie, even an evil vampire kid. Then what might have been explored more was - wasn't Abigail the real victim? She was turned into a vampire as a child and left trapped in a child's body for 400, forced to live as a kid forever and serve her father. She didn't choose this. I wondered if Abigail and Joey should have teamed up to kill Abigail's father in the end but he would have been too strong for them.

[@jackchop1576]

The trailer gave away exactly which character would survive in the end.

[@Dliu1116]

The characteristics of the characters gave it away, it wasn’t that hard to see

[@believeume122]

It was very predictable. You could tell she would be the special snowflake as soon as it started.

[@dastoryteller8472]

I'm not locked in here with you.. You locked in here with me...

[@joshuacheek1667]

Very thoughtful and enjoyable commentary. There was another vampire AND ballerina movie from the '60s... an Italian film that sort of pushed the envelope on the Hammer theme of fangs and cleavage called "The Vampire and the Ballerina." Another item that I haven't heard other commentators mention was that 'Swan Lake' was the music used in the original Lugosi Dracula. If it was by accident, it was serendipitous, but I can't believe the production team did not know that. Well done.

[@ianosaurus27]

RIP Angus Cloud 🕯

[@2236gaming]

Haaa, what a joy to find a "movie explained" video that actually tries to explain the themes and is not a mere recap of the movie plot. Very enjoyable video, thanks a lot. I really liked this movie, the story and characters are wonderfully done.

[@ThorogoodFilms]

Ah thank you!

[@BruceCarroll]

Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" was also used as the music in the 1939 film, "Dracula." It is an homage to the source material and another link suggesting Lazaar is himself Dracula. Abigail is a gifted ballerina, but in her fight with Frank she climbs onto the side of a staircase and leaps off, much like a professional wrestler jumping from the top rope. She is both graceful and brutal. There is a fair amount of foreshadowing in this film: Abigail stabs Frank in the hand with a wooden pencil in the abduction scene, and she stabs him in the leg with a pool cue/stake in a later fight scene. In the film's finale, Abigail (with the help of Joey) impales Frank through the heart, thereby ending his vampiric life. When discussing what the team knows about vampires, Joey looks at Sammy when she says vampires can turn other people into vampires. Sammy is later turned into a vampire by Abigail. Frank says vampires can control minds and make people do things. He later attempts this himself with Joey. When discussing ways to destroy a vampire, Sammy says sunlight is a big one. Later she is turned and destroyed by sunlight.

[@michelledaly410]

I first came upon your channel from your amazing analysis of the film “Freaky.” I had just read an article from screen rant that the character of Joey’s actual last name Cruz was specifically chosen because in Spanish it translates to cross or crucifix. Maybe, and I could be reaching. that the cross could not help Peter because just use of a symbol is meaningless own it’s own. Joey actually embodied the meaning of sacrifice that the cross represents. Thank you for your captivating takes on film.

[@ThorogoodFilms]

Fascinating take! Thanks for your kind words :)

[@SebastianSeanCrow]

0:17 it being a horror COMEDY makes so much sense now

[@why7223]

I would love to see another movie, maybe they can make it a huge series like SAW almost, where we get new characters, and maybe see the outside world realize the amount of missing people and then grow from there.

[@amdw1029]

Great analysis! I was shocked at first at how knowledgeable you were about Christ being antithetical to vampirism but then I saw some of your other videos and realized you're a Christian! Not a lot of us Christians who love horror so glad to have found your channel. P.S. You HAVE to do a deep dive video into the movie The Devil's Candy! My husband and I just watched it and loved it and we'd love to hear your take!

[@ThorogoodFilms]

Ah thanks so much for the encouragement! Yes, I think horror films explore some of the deepest themes of evil and mortality. You might enjoy this chat I did with another Christian friend about the theology of horror: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2W9i4p3aJllmck And thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out!

[@johneddiecox741]

Another Christian who enjoys horror here, both my wife and I.

[@ThorogoodFilms]

@@johneddiecox741 Oh cool! Welcome :)

[@sekaihatsu]

It's always interesting to see what mythos survived in a modern retelling and what if any, new concepts will be added to the lore. In Vampire the Masquerade games, while the SI (physical) is powerful and poses a threat to all vampires, it is the few who have true faith (spiritual of course) that can harm a vampire. Some without touching them.

[@jefflambert8825]

The sugar is a craving that addicts have when they put down the opiate. She has sugar because she doesn’t use opiates just to be clear on that.

[@TomBrzezicki]

While at my local cineplex watching “Abigail” the other day, I couldn’t help but think that here was an Irish film with a talented young Irish actress from Dublin, Alisha Weir, in the title role, with the same underlying message to her story as another recent Irish film, “The Quiet Girl”, starring another young Irish actress from Dublin, Catherine Clinch, the message of both films being the importance of parents loving their children and being an active presence in their lives.

[@ThorogoodFilms]

Ah very interesting! Yes Alisha Weir is phenomenal isn't she?

[@TomBrzezicki]

@@ThorogoodFilms Yes, I found Alisha Weir's performance in "Abigail" to be pretty impressive. All the same, I can't help but prefer Catherine Clinch in "The Quiet Girl", who was only ten years old and had never acted in front of the camera before when she starred in that Oscar nominated film.

[@lessismore8533]

@@ThorogoodFilmsAlisha also played the modern Matilda. Though Mara Wilson was always be Matilda

[@TomBrzezicki]

@@lessismore8533 Agreed! Mara Wilson was the Matilda my kids grew up watching and enjoying.

[@AzHades520]

Thanks mate, I've gotten bored after having breakfast so it's great seeing you uploaded

[@shawndear8941]

Very good and in depth detailed review ... i suscribed

[@unbrokenandunchartedb3239]

Great review. I would like to note that she had a lollipop at the beginning of the movie.That was her last one.She was relieved to have one at the end of the movie.

[@autumnwriter0449]

Thank you I really enjoyed your review and explanation..

[@ThorogoodFilms]

Ah thanks!

[@autumnwriter0449]

@@ThorogoodFilms your welcome!!

[@Bre_lol]

That dancing scene. Was the creepy part of that movie. There was a lot of creepy things

[@daniellemusella1594]

The use of "Swan Lake" was also another reference to the Universal Horror films. Several of them, including the original "Dracula", made the composition part of the movies' opening credits. (6/5/2024)

[@rosalindmatteson3697]

Another reason the cross didn't work is that you have to have faith to make it work, especially on an old vampire. New vampires can be repelled with a cross because they still have lingering faith. Old vampires don't. So, you must have the faith to make it work. The older the vampire, the stronger your faith needs to be. I seriously doubt Peter had much faith.

[@mschoy1597]

I LOVED ABIGAIL - DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS! GREAT FUN FILM! And I love vampires!

[@treehouse318]

this movie sounds good, thank you for another great video!

[@enerioffutt1881]

My own personal feeling about crosses and vampires is that back when the vampire mythos first began almost everyone was Christian. And even those who weren't believed in God. And God was seen as protecting people from evil. Therefore his symbol was seen as a most potent protection.

[@islandgyal3730]

Thoroughly good review!😉💕

[@ThorogoodFilms]

Ahaha aw thanks so much!

[@beerwine1000]

Id love to see Aby and her Dad on a cruise ship of terror 😉🚢🩸🧛‍♂️

[@lessismore8533]

Lol

[@vanesalodico7798]

This also reminds me of the movie Livide. There are thiefs trapped with vallerina vampire in a mansion. The movie also shows the strain relationship with her mother, who is also a vampire.

[@lynnglidewell7367]

I thought the film was enjoyable until the end. Tuning the crooked cop into a vampire was just way over the top for me. I thought it was silly and dum of the writers to do it. Came near spoiling what had otherwise been a good film to that point. I'm expecting a sequel. Both Abigail and her Dad look as if we should expect more. The comedy is very good in the film which makes it fun. The cop however was to much. I could have wrote a better ending.

[@pfksr64]

I would like to delve deeper into the cross in this story, In two other excellent Vampire movies/stories Salems Lot and Fright Night Crosses are failed tools used against master vampires, in both tellings the vampires reveal that the bearer of the symbol must have faith. In Salem's Lot by a priest who loses faith in the confrontation and in Fright Night Peter Vincent gains faith as a consequence of his experience. I think in Abigale a man who makes his living as an enforcer and one who was about to kill an innocent child without hesitation might wear the symbol and even pretend it has meaning but in fact would have no real faith. I would love to see a sequel where in this modern age our father daughter vampire duo have become complacent and are faced with an individual who has real faith and is forced to retreat as a result. It adds nuance and tips towards a broader story line of the changing times emboldening evil, almost incentivizing it.

[@lesley4215]

Thank you so much!

[@BryceChillis]

i thought Abigail was doing this on her own, not because her dad told her

[@andrealee8561]

I hope we get more Abigail This actress was great

[@roziirozii9243]

The movie was great until the ending. I just didn’t like how Abigail slowly drifted away from being the main villain. Then it was like a talk show because everybody became a vampire and it just got boring

[@Son_Of_I_AM001]

Completely agree

[@wildermidnight]

I loved everything up until the last few minutes. I wish they left it off without bring in abigails father. After watching this fun dark little romp I suddenly felt like I was watching a special episode of Monster girl high school. Lazar was about as intimidating as a muppet.

[@samlazar1053]

The name Vampir first takes in 17th and 1ith century. But the MYTHICAL being is way way older Even the ancient greeks reported on it

[@kam3410]

One thing I don't understand is that if Giancarlo Esposito aka Lambert bite the detective why would he retain his vampirism after he killed his maker?

[@moonlightprincess449]

You look like you could be a vampire too lol

[@KibuFox]

In the context of the Abigail movie, the implication of Abigail being a ballet dancer, suggests that she's been doing this her entire 'life'. That's easily 200 plus years, give or take. What isn't widely known, is that until relatively recently (1920's or 1930's) Ballet dancers were also prostitutes. Yes, even the very young ones like Abigail. This was a well known aspect of Ballet, and it was generally accepted until more modern times and sensibilities started to take over, that a patron (male supporter) of a ballet dancer, was also given access to sexual favors from the dancer herself. Parents of the dancers would effectively 'sell' their daughters to the patrons; as the more they could promise the patron, then the more money the dancer and family could earn. With this in mind, it stands to reason that, at the very least, until some time in the early to mid 20th century, Abigail didn't really need to 'hunt' as she does in the movie. She'd have easy access to prey, in the form of many patrons and potential patrons.

[@Embermoon91]

I feel so eorry for Sbogail. Being trapped perpetually in the body of a 12 year old and having been turned against her will, not to mention being dependent on the one who forced her into her new life. That would turn anyone crazy.

[@michelkudluk6193]

magnificent

[@stephaniereach105]

I hope this is a good movie. Bc I haven't watched a good horror movie in what seems forever

[@ThorogoodFilms]

I probably wouldn't rush to see it again. But it had some interesting things :)

[@casualtake1497]

6/10

[@minilea144]

I wouldn't call it a horror, personally. Just a thriller or suspense with horror elements. It's on the very low level of campy. So, with that in mind, you may enjoy it. It's very much an updated And Then There Were None.

[@forcecalibration924]

Great video maybe because you’re secretly a vampire 😂

[@Raytenk]

I dont like calling every single big bad scary vampire Dracula... It wasnt even implied he's dracula, just a vampire... Its like thinking every Chinese person is Jackie Chan

[@minilea144]

I never thought he was Dracula. I just thought he was a vampire. Dracula never even crossed my mind. Also, am I wrong for thinking he never had anything to do with the kills? Because in the beginning, he claims the dad put everyone in the house to kill them when he was never there until the end. Every kill in that house was done by Abby to try to win her dad's attention/approval. So how did he come and say the decapitation was done by "Dracula" when it was Abby?

[@dadrocha7741]

Why skip the silent film Nosferatu?

[@cryptofacts4u]

If the baby vampire can resist the cross, then yeah the cross doesn't really have any power. Because if the baby can do it then big papa daddy Dracula can definitely do it and most likely all adult vampires can do it Like yeah the film definitely has a theme at the end of good overcoming evil but that is not at all the same as the film saying that the particular religion of Christianity has any power against the vampires, because it just doesn't

[@Him_Downstairs36]

Funny Thomas kind of looks like Abigail’s dad

[@ERJones-fd6oh]

Trapped with a ballerina,the ultimate horror

[@ryanreyes5440]

It's as if the creators saw the trailer to M3gan dancing and decided to make a movie lol

[@Aifht]

What ist happening what is abby goal ? Idk

[@edrodriguez4822]

Doesn't have that much comedy but it's especially funny

[@hoibsh21]

Vampires burning in sunlight, exploded by stakes are all such tired concepts. I like the idea of sunlight weakening a vampire, possibly blinding them. I'd rather have a vampire slowly deteriorate after being staked.

[@daniellemusella1594]

@hoibsh21 An interesting shift from that happened in 1992's "Bram Stoker's Dracula". In the shot, where the title character emerges from his coffin in a younger-looking form, we hear Van Helsing's narration say, "Contrary to popular belief, the vampire, like any other night creature, can move about by day. But it is not his natural time, and his powers are weak." (6/6/2024)

[@hoibsh21]

@@daniellemusella1594 Yeah, I don't want vampires to be too vulnerable. Best to stop using the usual tropes and come up with something new.

[@believeume122]

Had such a good premise but too many silly parts for me.

[@powwow522]

Marry me

[@Catmom-gl5nt]

All you need to do to stop a vampire is cart around a bucket of beans, lentils, seeds, etc and then fling them at the vampire. Problem solved 😂.

[@kaymac7849]

Or you call for granny weatherwax and nanny ogg 😂

[@GZP1023]

There is no deeper darker meaing. This movie is as straight forward as possible. This was the weakest synopsis of this movie.

[@jessetoler8171]

NO! NO! NO! Lasar says he has had many names OVER COUTLESS AEONS, not "throughout history". Every reviewer gets it WRONG! He is FAR OLDER than Dracula. Go back and listen to the dialogue again.

[@bobynowayne]

It's a fucking movie, relax dude 😒

[@jessetoler8171]

@@bobynowayne Get the movie right or don't talk about it.

[@bobynowayne]

@@jessetoler8171 it's just a movie. Creative differences and visions. Relax

[@bobynowayne]

@jessetoler8171 is one of the saddest people on the internet. Tiny violin 🎻

[@keishaanderson2917]

Abigail could have been better..maybe the second film will be better

[@RoeVenturesLLC]

7:08 Vampire mythos? It’s the writers cherry-pick what happens to there vampire on screen. It’s erroneous.

[@Gigi-nl3so]

Not the best choice to play Dracula-this actor's look is meh..

[@michaelmccormick6571]

You were wrong about Catholic Communion, it is not just symbolic but actual transformation. Also, I am tired of how these modern vampire films try to portray the Crucifix as inept against vampires

[@trvswst]

I think you put more thought into Abigail than the screenwriters did. After the success of M3GAN, I think they just wanted a creepy little girl who dances.

[@Aaaandy_kick]

The next movie will be about Abigail s mom

[@Aifht]

What ist happening what is abby goal ? Idk

[@Aifht]

What ist happening what is abby goal ? Idk

[@Aifht]

What ist happening what is abby goal ? Idk