Summary:
- Abigail’s star, Melissa Barrera, revealed that there was an alternative ending in the horror movie.
- The ending features a call between Joey and her son after the final fight is done and dusted.
- Barrera and the directors believed that the scene wasn’t necessary and “felt like double beat.”
The new horror sensation, Abigail, is making strides at the box office worldwide, with a rather vague ending that makes everyone wonder if there will be a sequel. But did you know that the ending of Abigail could have been a bit longer?
Melissa Barrera, the horror film’s alum, shared insights into why the film’s ending was intentionally left vague. In a conversation with Screen Rant, Barrera discussed the alternate ending where her character Joey might have had a more definitive conclusion.
In Abigail, Joey is part of a group tasked with kidnapping the daughter of a notorious criminal, only to discover that the girl, Abigail, is a bloodthirsty vampire. The film culminates with Joey and Abigail joining forces to defeat the antagonist, Frank, allowing Joey a chance to escape and possibly reunite with her son.
The original film concludes with Joey entering a van and leaving the place where they first held Abigail. Before she drives away, Joey is seen smiling at a voicemail from her son, suggesting she might finally go home. However, an alternative had Joey actually speaking to her son, confirming her return.
Barrera explained the decision to cut this scene, noting it felt redundant after a previous emotional call in the film.
“We did record a call with my son in the van, so there was that option of him actually answering and Joey saying, ‘I’m coming home.’ But I think the guys decided that we didn’t need it, because we had that big emotional call before, and because of the nature of the ending with Abigail and her dad coming in, it would have felt like a double beat,” Barrera said. This choice left Joey’s fate more ambiguous.
“I think we didn’t need it, and it’s just a badass [fight] then leave like that. Just be like, ‘We don’t know what’s gonna happen. Is she gonna go home? Did Abigail tell the truth that she’s going to turn into a vampire?’ Who knows?” The actress added.
Abigail, which also features Kathryn Newton, Giancarlo Esposito, and the late Angus Cloud, has received positive critical reception. The film, a modern twist on the classic Dracula‘s Daughter, showcases Barrera’s performance as a highlight and marks her return to Hollywood after being dismissed from the Scream franchise for her Israel-Hamas social media posts.
Currently, Abigail is available in theaters and for digital rental or purchase
