Genres collide in “Abigail”, the insanely bloody and equally bonkers new film from co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (“V/H/S”, “Scream VI”). The duo’s latest effort mixes action, survival, vampire horror, and black comedy into one grisly B-movie cocktail that should have been a lot better than it actually is. What we end up with is an unfortunate misfire built on the misguided notion that if you throw enough blood and f-bombs at your audience they won’t notice the flaws.

The movie’s biggest draw may be its fun and all-in cast. Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, and even the great Giancarlo Esposito all have parts in its killer ensemble. But the cast member many people will be talking about is 14-year-old Alisha Weir. She plays the film’s titular character and let’s just say her performance has some bite to it. But a good cast can only do so much especially when they’re frequently left to get by on nothing but their own charm and charisma.

In this case the chief culprit is the script. Written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, the premise is simple enough and perfect for lots of fun genre indulgences. They have all sorts of cool inspiration they’re pulling from. And (again) there’s that cast who all seem fully committed to whatever they’re asked to do. When all considered, this should have been a sure-thing. But the paper-thin characters and the shallow dialogue starts to wear on you. Unfortunately for us the film doesn’t veer from its formula. So we’re left with more arguing, more f-bombs, and less brain cells.

“Abigail” opens by introducing us to a group of kidnappers, each with broadly defined specialties and even broader personalities. They’re complete strangers to each other but handpicked by their employer. There’s the hard-nosed leader Frank (Stevens), the medic Joey (Barrera), the dense but lovable muscle Peter (Durand), the ditzy young hacker Sammy ( Newton), the zoned-out getaway driver Dean (the late Angus Cloud), and Rickles (William Catlett), the team sniper because what team doesn’t need a sniper?

Their job is to kidnap a young girl named Abigail (Weir) as she returns home from ballet practice. They pull it off with remarkable precision and then drive the girl out to an abandoned mansion in the middle of nowhere where their handler named Lambert (Esposito) is waiting. When they arrive Lambert informs them that they are to stay at the mansion and watch Abigail for 24 hours while he retrieves the hefty ransom from her wealthy yet mysterious father. After he returns they’ll all get paid and can go their separate ways.

As the six settle in for the next several hours the movie tries to open up their characters through some back-and-forths that don’t really add much depth at all. They mostly argue and insult each other which makes them more insufferable than interesting. There are a couple of exceptions. Newton is by far the most entertaining, possessing an infectiously wacky energy that I kinda loved. Durand has some really funny lines but the writers overplay the ‘dumb’ card. And Catlett is the least offensive only because his character is the most thinly-sketched of them all.

And that leads to the film’s big reveal (it’s early on and in all the advertising so not really a spoiler). Abigail isn’t the sweet innocent little girl fearing for her life. She’s actually….a vampire and her six kidnappers are what’s on the menu. It’s a crazy turn of events that gives a little more context to the film’s hilarious tagline “Children can be such monsters”.

From there “Abigail” follows the six as they try to survive while sealed inside a sprawling mansion with a literal bloodthirsty vampire. Again, it’s a premise that should be a slam-dunk. But the movie uses all of its tricks early. And then rather than try some new ones it just uses the old ones over and over again. The humor dries up pretty quick and there’s not a scare to be found anywhere. And the one swing at an emotional payoff doesn’t land and isn’t earned at all.

I don’t want to sound like there’s nothing to like about “Abigail”. Again, the cast is a fun one with Newton being the brightest light. The oceans of blood can be quite fun early on. And there are a smattering a genuinely funny lines (Abigail uttering “I like to play with my food” remains my favorite). But in this case the good can’t outweigh the bad and my brain had already checked out before the seemingly never-ending final battle arrived. “Abigail” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 2 STARS

The latest film in Nicolas Cage’s vast and rapidly growing filmography is “Arcadian”, an action horror movie from director Ben Brewer. Cage undoubtedly remains one of the most versatile actors working today and here he gets to play a devoted father trying his best to keep his teenage sons alive in a perilous post-apocalyptic world. It’s a good role for Cage, and his more subdued performance serves as a good reminder of the great range he still possesses.

Screenwriter Michael Nilon melds coming-of-age drama elements with end-of-the-world terror to tell a heartfelt family story that is just as much a good old-fashioned creature feature. What sets this film apart from so many others is that these ravenous nocturnal monsters are uniquely terrifying, from their bizarre otherworldly design to the creepily clever way Brewer uses them. And then there’s the family dynamic and the compelling places Nilon takes it.

The story is set within a vaguely defined but terribly dangerous dystopia. Not much is revealed about the world other than there was an environmental disaster that contaminated the air and water resulting in the collapse of society. Paul (Cage) has taken his two teen sons, Joseph (Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins), and made a home in a remote farmhouse. During the day they scavenge for supplies in the lawless remains of a nearby city. At night they board up all the windows and reinforce the doors. Because that’s when the vicious feral creatures come out and roam.

The first half of the film sees Paul as the anchor. Cage shows seasoned restraint in portraying a man doing his best to be a loving father while teaching his sons how to survive. But about midway through the movie shifts its focus towards the two brothers. They couldn’t be more different. Joseph is quiet and reserved yet bookish and a thinker. Thomas is more athletic and outgoing but headstrong to the point of being irresponsible and careless. Joseph studies and tinkers, trying to find ways to enhance their survival. Thomas slips off to a neighbor’s farm to flirt with their daughter Charlotte (Sadie Soverall), barely making it back home before dark.

One evening, Thomas’ carelessness sets in motion a chain of events that forever change this family’s lives. It’s something that highlights the brothers’ differences while also revealing their need for one another. And yes, it does involve the creatures who have a prominent role in the film’s gonzo final act. This is where Brewer really gets to have fun with his nightmarish creations. He cooks up some good tension and a real sense of peril. He also does well creating atmosphere that ranges from uneasy to downright suffocating.

With “Arcadian”, Brewer (smartly) doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. He embraces several genres while instinctively adding his own creative strokes to each one. He also makes time for quieter moments which allow Nilon’s human component to take form. This proves to be a key ingredient, as it often does with the better movies of this kind.

While watching “Arcadian” the shadow of “A Quiet Place” is pretty hard to miss. But this isn’t some stock quality clone. The film has enough of its own style and flavor to stand out. I do wish we were give more about the world and the gnarly creatures that threaten it. And some of the early character choices don’t make a lot of sense. But Brewer keeps us locked in and on the edges of our seats throughout. Overall “Arcadian” is a genre lover’s delight that never loses sight of the humanity at its core. “Arcadian” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS