Summary
- Kevin Durand shines in Abigail, showcasing his comedic talents as the dimwitted muscleman Peter.
- Durand's versatility is evident in his contrasting roles as comedic relief in Abigail and a serious villain in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
- Durand's physicality and nuanced performances make him a standout capable of effectively portraying a range of creatively.
Highly rated horror-comedy Abigail's stacked cast were uniformly praised. While Melissa Barrera and Dan Stevens stand out as the leads of the kidnapping crew, other actors play an important role.
The Abigail cast demonstrated terrific comedic timing and was committed to the absolute absurdity of the tween vampire ballerina story. However, Kevin Durand stands out as dimwitted muscleman Peter. Leaning into the character's comedic potential, he was able to show a side of his talents that he often doesn't get to portray onscreen. Durand's sense of humor, which clearly comes through in Abigail, contrasts with his other significant role this year, Proximus in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Abigail's 10 Horror Movie Easter Eggs & Vampire References Explained
2024's Abigail includes various references to other vampire and horror properties, such as Ready or Not, Twilight, Dracula, and Agatha Christie.
Abigail's Kevin Durand Also Plays The Villain In Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Durand Excels At Two Very Different Characters
Although his Abigail performance is a highlight of 2024, Durand also plays a completely different role in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. In contrast to Peter, Proximus is a deathly serious character, exerting an iron will over his kingdom as a terrifying autocrat. Proximus believes he has earned his kingdom and the right to control those around him. Durand manages to effectively bring depth to the character, despite the added complication of motion-capture. Despite the differences between the two, Durand manages to use his natural attributes to enhance both parts.
Kevin Durand is 6'6". His physical stature naturally attracts attention, so he is not usually cast as the funny sidekick. More often than not, he plays the muscle in his movies. Abigail is wise to play on his physicality, using it to enhance the movie's comedy. Despite towering over the movie's diminutive villain, Durand's Peter spends his time being regularly demolished by a 12-year-old. Compared to Proximus Caesar's imposing stature, this role creates a pronounced and welcome contrast for Durand, showcasing his versatility.
Abigail Ending Explained
Abigail subverts certain aspects of vampire lore and has quite the ending. We break down the horror film's biggest revelations and ending moments.
Why Kevin Durand Was A Highlight in Abigail & Kingdom Of The Planet OF The Apes
Durand Found Very Different Ways To Bring The Characters To Life
While Proximus Caesar and Peter are hugely contrasting roles, they both allowed Durand to demonstrate different strings of his acting bow. While Peter is primarily comedic relief, Proximus is far from funny. Yet despite this difference, Durand's physicality is equally important in bringing both characters to life. Peter is the dumb muscle who was taught that his sole purpose is to use his body to exert dominance over those around him, so the movie finds humor in making this giant man often the victim of a little girl in a tutu.
Durand changes how he moves to suit these contrasting characters, highlighting his flexibility as a performer.
On the other hand, Proximus uses his size and strength to control those around him. Unlike Peter, Proximus yearns to learn more and educate himself. He believes that attaining knowledge will grant him power. Durand changes how he moves to suit these contrasting characters, highlighting his flexibility as a performer. Peter moves clumsily throughout Abigail, while Proximus exerts control over his kingdom with very deliberate movements. It's fascinating to see the actor in two very different roles, and both speak to his skill.
Kevin Durand is a capable actor who brings depth and nuance to various roles. Whether he's playing a bumbling comedic foil in a Abigail or an imposing villainous ape in a massive franchise, Durand manages to deliver. As these two roles prove, there's plenty to suggest that he can continue to deliver scene-stealing performances into the future.
Abigail is a 2024 horror thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The plot follows a group of people who kidnap the daughter of a dangerous crime lord only to discover that the little girl is actually a vicious vampire out for blood. Alisha Weir stars as the titular character alongside Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Dan Stevens.
- Cast
- Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens, Melissa Barrera, Alisha Weir, Angus Cloud, William Catlett
- Director
- Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
- Main Genre
- Horror
