Scream directors' new vampire horror Abigail is so bloody, they spent the majority of the shoot apologizing to the actors

Melissa Barrera as 'Joey' in Abigail
(Image credit: Future/Total Film magazine)

Scream directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's new horror movie Abigail is so bloody, they felt genuinely bad for constantly dousing their actors in the sticky red stuff on set.

"All of our movies are bloody," the filmmakers tell Total Film in our new issue out this Friday, which features Road House on the cover. "[But] I would say that this is definitely the most bloody. We spent a lot of time apologizing to our actors on this movie! 

"I mean, blood is in the DNA of a vampire movie, and the amount of blood work in this one is… It's pretty extreme!" Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, whose previous works include Southbound and Ready or Not, continued. "But it's still fun."

Starring Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, and Matilda breakout Alisha Weir in the titular role, the film follows a ragtag team of kidnappers who realize too late that the 12-year-old girl they've been asked to keep captive isn't just the daughter of a powerful criminal; she's a vampire, and a ballet-dancing one at that.

Kathryn Newton, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Durand, and the late Angus Cloud round out the cast. In Total Film's exclusive image above, you can see the cluster of crooks as they arrive at the place where they're supposed to hide Abigail. In other words, it's a shot from the start of the movie before everything goes seriously, seriously sideways...

Alisha Weir in Abigail

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Abigail is released on April 19. And you can read more about it and a whole lot else besides in the new issue of Total Film when it hits shelves and digital newsstands on Friday, March 1. This is one day later than usual, due to how the Leap Year falls. 

Check out the covers below:

Total Film's Road House covers

(Image credit: Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios/Total Film)

Pre-order the issue here to bag your copy, or click here to subscribe to Total Film and never miss another exclusive. You’ll get every issue before it's in stores, and you’ll get subscriber-exclusive covers. 

Total Film's subscriber offer

(Image credit: Universal/Warner Bros./Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios/Focus Features)
Editor-at-Large, Total Film

Jamie Graham is the Editor-at-Large of Total Film magazine. You'll likely find them around these parts reviewing the biggest films on the planet and speaking to some of the biggest stars in the business – that's just what Jamie does. Jamie has also written for outlets like SFX and the Sunday Times Culture, and appeared on podcasts exploring the wondrous worlds of occult and horror. 

With contributions from
Read more
Heart Eyes
Heart Eyes director describes the new slasher as a rom-com that’s just as "fun and violent" as Friday the 13th: "For me, it was about asking, 'What haven't I seen in a while?'"
Michael B. Jordan as Elijah and Elias in Sinners
Black Panther director's Stephen King inspired horror movie Sinners gets wild trailer that sees Marvel star Michael B. Jordan fight off bloodthirsty vampires
Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid in 'Companion'
Director of new twisty romance horror Companion explains why it wouldn't have worked without The Boys and Yellowjackets stars: "I can't imagine anyone else"
Julia Garner as Charlotte and Christopher Abbott as Blake in Wolf Man
Wolf Man director explains how the new monster movie defies horror tropes through Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner's couple
Christopher Abbott in Bring Them Down
Poor Things' Christopher Abbott on his new thriller with Barry Keoghan that's "like a mafia movie with sheep"
Christopher Abbott as 'Blake' in Wolf Man
Nosferatu, Abigail, Werewolves… why is Hollywood suddenly loving monster movies again? Director of new horror Wolf Man has a theory
Latest in
AI Limit
"AI is not as effective as it might appear": Dev of AI-focused Soulslike RPG says they didn't use any AI-generated content and it can't match "genuine creativity"
Fantastic Four: 1234 #2 cover excerpt
Sue Storm and Namor are officially both in Avengers: Doomsday, and fans are wondering if Reed Richards has something to worry about
The First Berserker: Khazan protagonist
The First Berserker: Khazan isn't even out yet, but the new Soulslike RPG already has over 1,300 94% positive reviews on Steam from early buyers
fool me once
Harlan Coben’s new novel is set to be "more of a sequel" to the hit Netflix series Fool Me Once: "I don’t know any time that’s ever happened"
Naoe looks over at a dense, lush, green forest in Assassin's Creed Shadows from a viewpoint
Getting Assassin's Creed Shadows on PS5 and Xbox Series X was all about adding "dynamism" to the open world, but the devs seem most proud about the trees
Schedule 1
Schedule 1 is Steam's latest viral hit – an open-world drug dealing simulator with 98% positive reviews, co-op, and a free sample to get you started
Latest in News
AI Limit
"AI is not as effective as it might appear": Dev of AI-focused Soulslike RPG says they didn't use any AI-generated content and it can't match "genuine creativity"
Fantastic Four: 1234 #2 cover excerpt
Sue Storm and Namor are officially both in Avengers: Doomsday, and fans are wondering if Reed Richards has something to worry about
The First Berserker: Khazan protagonist
The First Berserker: Khazan isn't even out yet, but the new Soulslike RPG already has over 1,300 94% positive reviews on Steam from early buyers
fool me once
Harlan Coben’s new novel is set to be "more of a sequel" to the hit Netflix series Fool Me Once: "I don’t know any time that’s ever happened"
Naoe looks over at a dense, lush, green forest in Assassin's Creed Shadows from a viewpoint
Getting Assassin's Creed Shadows on PS5 and Xbox Series X was all about adding "dynamism" to the open world, but the devs seem most proud about the trees
Schedule 1
Schedule 1 is Steam's latest viral hit – an open-world drug dealing simulator with 98% positive reviews, co-op, and a free sample to get you started