MANILA -- The silver screen has once again been graced by a blood-curdling yet balletic twist on vampire folklore in the new film "Abigail." 

Among the cast, young actress Alisha Weir’s debut as the eponymous character has left audiences both terrified and thoroughly entertained. 

Alisha Weir in 'Abigail' 

“Abigail” begins with a high-stakes heist, a dangerous mission that, if all goes according to plan, could net six strangers a staggering $50 million. 

Recruited for the job by a mysterious fixer, the team must kidnap Abigail (played by Alisha Weir), the ballerina daughter of a reclusive kingpin who presides over a vast criminal empire. For the crew to get their share of the ransom money, they must safely transport the girl back. But once inside the isolated mansion where they held her hostage, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl as Abigail turns out to be a vampire. 

With a mix of stunt work, levitation, and a transformation that included "white face paint to make me look a lot more paled down," Weir brought an otherworldly presence to the role of Abigail.

Diving into the transformative process, Weir shared: "Once the teeth and the contacts were in, it kind of, it really made me look like Abigail. But I had so much fun getting to transform myself into that character." 

Her most memorable stunt? "Climbing the banister and then jumping off," which she describes as immensely enjoyable, despite the daunting appearance.

Melissa Barrera, who plays Joey, one of Abigail’s kidnappers, is a skilled medic with combat training in the film. Barrera said she recognized the burgeoning talent from the start. "It was such a gift to work with Alisha who is so talented," she said.

She also reminisced about their time together on set. “Alisha is such a movie star and she's going to go off to do incredible things. It didn't feel like we were acting with a kid because she is so mature and such a pro and so disciplined and super talented,” she said. 

The duo's chemistry transcended the screen, with Barrera adding, "I think that dynamic off-screen translated really well to our Abigail and Joey on-screen scenes."

The film, which takes its place in a genre saturated with vampire narratives, distinguishes itself through a unique blend of horror and comedy. "It's a vampire ballerina that is terrifying but also kind of hilarious," Barrera said. 

This balance of terror and laughter, alongside unexpected plot twists, sets "Abigail" apart, appealing to a wide array of audiences with its gore, jump scares, creatures, and an emotional core.

The film's ability to entertain was a primary objective, according to Radio Silence – the directing team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett who are behind movies “Scream” 2022 and “Scream VI.” 

"100% fun and entertaining. That's always the goal for us," they affirmed, aiming to provide a thrilling yet thoughtful experience that goes beyond the surface-level excitement of a vampire ballerina.

As for Weir, "Abigail" holds a special place in her heart. "It was my first ever horror film and it was my second big experience," she recalled, noting the support and camaraderie on set, particularly from Barrera, which made her experience all the more memorable. 

The young star got her breakthrough role in 2022, when she was cast as Matilda in Netflix’s "Matilda the Musical."

"Abigail" also stands as one of the last to feature the late Angus Cloud who passed away in 2023 due to an accidental drug overdose. Cloud’s presence on set was cherished by all. 

"Every moment on set and off with Angus was a special memory," shared filmmakers Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, emphasizing his compassionate and genuine nature.

In a blood-soaked genre, "Abigail" takes it to a new level, with the filmmakers admitting, "We really went for it." They played with the concept of bloodiness to its extremes, staying true to the vampiric element while pushing the boundaries of the horror genre.

While audiences speculate about a possible sequel, the filmmakers hint at an open door, with the fate of the characters and the potential for further storytelling resting in the hands of the studio.

As "Abigail" makes its way to the Philippines, home to its own vampiric lore of the “aswang,” the cast and crew extend an enthusiastic invitation to viewers. "Hey Philippines. We're so excited for you to check out 'Abigail' in the theater," they said, promising a labor of love that translates into a good time at the movies.

“Abigail” also stars Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens, William Catlett, Kevin Durand and Giancarlo Esposito.

Fangs out and get ready for a bloody time at the cinemas as “Abigail” opens in the Philippines on April 17.