‘ABIGAIL’ RATED R

A horror film is supposed to be scary, causing one to jump with each fright, compounded by a sense of dread of what may come next. “Abigail” may be billed as a horror film, but the assertion may be debatable.

It’s not really a spoiler to reveal that this is essentially a vampire/thriller movie. Trailers have not held back on the unmistakable theme unless one is willing to believe the central character just happens to have an abysmal set of teeth.

The titular character is a 12-year-old ballerina (Alisha Weir) first seen practicing a routine from “Swan Lake” at an empty theater before being chauffeured home to an elegant mansion owned by a powerful, wealthy underworld figure.

Waiting for the ballet prodigy is a mixed bag of criminals who have been recruited by criminal mastermind Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito) to kidnap the kid with the intent of collecting a $50 million ransom.

In Quentin Tarantino-fashion, Lambert provides pseudonyms to each of the six recruits in a nod to the Rat Pack. The most sympathetic of the bunch is Joey (Melissa Barrera), a former addict and medic who is tasked with interacting with the hostage child.

Frank (Dan Stevens) is a former cop, and how he came to the other side of law is a mystery. Peter (Kevin Durand) is the dimwitted muscle. Getaway driver Dean (Angus Cloud) is an equally dumb skinhead.

Sammy (Kathryn Newton) is a ditzy blonde with computer skills not immediately apparent. Former military guy Rickles (William Catlett), much like Frank, soon comes to regret joining this gang. By the way, Don Rickles was never a member of the Rat Pack though he was a close friend with Frank Sinatra.

The notion of “Abigail” is that the motley crew must keep the kidnapped girl safe for 24 hours in a decaying mansion until Lambert returns with their cut of the ransom money. What could go wrong under this scenario?

For a while, everything seems to be going according to plan, except that Joey decides to wager she can guess everyone’s background with their facial expressions, going against Lambert’s instructions that all are to remain anonymous.

Abigail has her own game in mind, telling Joey “I’m sorry about what’s going to happen to you.” Suffice it to say, the pint-sized vampire unleashes her fury in most inventively bloody carnage, as the gang grapples with how to slay her with whatever they have gleaned from vampire movies.

It’s about halfway through the movie that Abigail goes on a rampage of dispatching her captors in a blood-soaked bonanza of decapitations and exploding bodies. With its black humor and thrills, “Abigail” just might be the ticket for fans of the genre.

CRIME MOVIES ON THE LIFETIME CHANNEL

Lifetime Channel has a knack for crime movies, either “ripped from the headlines” or based on purported events. “Mommy Meanest,” premiering on May 11th, has a title that sounds like an old Joan Crawford movie.

Lisa Rinna, married to actor Harry Hamlin and executive producer and star of “Mommy Meanest,” plays the role of divorced mother Madelyn with Briana Skye as her daughter Mia. Once having had a tight bond with her mother, Mia starts spending more time with her new boyfriend.

Madelyn is panicked by her daughter’s emerging independence with college on the horizon. When Mia starts to receive a barrage of degrading texts, Madelyn is determined to find out who is harassing her daughter and will do anything to help her, bringing them closer together again.

As the hundreds of texts become more ominous and threatening, Mia begins to wonder if her tormentor is someone closer than she could have ever imagined. You may have to guess where this is going. Lisa Rinna’s own daughter Delilah Hamlin appears in the movie as Mia’s friend Summer.

A week later on May 18 is the premiere of “The Bad Guardian,” a film inspired by countless true stories of individuals who have been put in the care of a guardian by the courts, and the question is whether these caretakers are helpful or harmful.

When Leigh’s (Melissa Joan Hart) father Jason (Eric Pierpoint) suffers a fall while she’s out of town, the courts assign Jason a guardian, Janet (La La Anthony). At first, Janet seems to be a big help to Jason, but things quickly take a terrible turn.

Legally in charge of every aspect of Jason’s life, Janet doesn’t waste any time placing him in a nursing home, auctioning off his house and worldly possessions, while using the excuse that the proceeds are needed for his care.

As Leigh continues to challenge Janet’s efforts, the guardian ultimately prevents the family from visiting. In Janet’s care, Jason’s health deteriorates, to the point that he needs a life-saving treatment which Janet decides is too expensive.

Will whistleblowers around Jason reveal the truth of abuse and end up in the crosshairs of a vengeful guardian? Will Leigh summon the strength to take down Janet and the corrupt system that enables her?

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.