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Revisiting ‘Abby’: The Obscure Black Exorcist Film

After the success of Freidkin’s exorcism film, other studios, and filmmakers were eager to ride the wave of the emerging subgenre of religious horror. The Exorcist’s impact on the genre changed the way audiences viewed the horror genre, seeing the genre films as insightful narratives that they could connect with. The film went on to receive ten Academy Award nominations, which had not yet been done by any other horror film. Even today, the impact of The Exorcist can still be seen across genres. And William Girdler decided to capitalize on that trend.

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In the mid-1970s, a horror movie was released that terrified audiences by featuring the demonic possession of an innocent young woman. If you assumed that this fits the description of The Exorcist (1973), you’d be right. But Abby was another film that many may not know about that was sued and banned from theaters because of its similarities.

After the success of Freidkin’s exorcism film, other studios, and filmmakers were eager to ride the wave of the emerging subgenre of religious horror. The Exorcist’s impact on the genre changed the way audiences viewed the horror genre, seeing the genre films as insightful narratives that they could connect with. The film went on to receive ten Academy Award nominations, which had not yet been done by any other horror film. Even today, the impact of The Exorcist can still be seen across genres. And William Girdler decided to capitalize on that trend.

Abby and the Post-Exorcist Rise of Religious Horror

Girdler’s sophomore film, Abby, was released on December 25, 1974– almost exactly one year after the December 26th release of The Exorcist. In the Blaxploitation horror film, Dr. Williams (William Marshall) finds an ancient relic while digging in a Nigerian cave. Dr. Williams mistakenly releases Eshu, a Yoruba sex demon. Eshu then travels across the world, attaching itself to Dr. Williams’ daughter-in-law, Abby (Carol Speed). As the film progresses, so does Abby’s possession. Abby’s husband and family are at a loss for her extreme change in behavior. A minister’s wife and a lead in her church choir, is now seducing men at random bars. Dr. Williams returns home, focused on ridding Abby of this demonic entity that makes her a sex-crazed housewife.

Abby and Horror Noire

Girdler’s exorcism film is heavily influenced by Black and African culture, fashion, and music. Much like other Blaxploitation horror films of that time (Blacula, Ganja & Hess), Abby explored a scary scenario told through a Black lens. But let’s not shy away from the fact that Girdler was a white man. Looking back, it’s clear that the film’s writing is problematic in some ways. The only way for Abby to be deemed worthy of saving is for her to be a God-fearing minister’s wife. Her sexual desires are evil and demonic.  Her body is not her own. Sound familiar (i.e., slavery)? In the documentary Horror Noire, Tananarive Due says Abby is “a really good example of both fear of Black women in general but fear of Black women’s sexuality in particular.”

One thing that Girdler does differently in Abby is using a male voice for the demon, which drives home even more that Abby is controlled by men. It’s not until she is exorcised by her father-in-law, along with her husband and brother in tow, that she is freed from the monster that she had become.

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Audience Impact and Cultural Resonance

When asked what it was like to see this film in 1974, @motomweusi836 responded with: “Me and some friends just had to sneak in and check this out. Worst mistake of my young life! This movie messed all of us up for months. We couldn’t sleep and were constantly thinking folks in the house were possessed. Needless to say our parents had no problems getting us to go to church after that.” And that’s relevant to the impact of this film. Seeing a Black woman being possessed on screen was fresh and scary as hell to Black audiences. And the box office reflected that impact.

Abby was in theaters for one month and was able to scare up $4 million, more than enough to recoup its $100,000 budget. But why was it only in theaters for a month? Because the film was so similar to The Exorcist that Warner Bros. contacted their lawyers to sue. It was even marketed as “The Black Exorcist”. The court sided with Warner Bros., and the film was pulled from theaters. Girdler admitted that Friedkin’s adaptation inspired his film, but it wasn’t a blatant ripoff. It isn’t clear from my research, but it is said that Warner Bros. not only had the film’s theatrical run halted, but they also seized the original reel to ensure that it wouldn’t be distributed.

Abby’s Lasting Legacy in Blaxploitation and Horror

Even fifty years later, the ownership of the original film is still a mystery. You may be able to find some not-so-stellar versions on YouTube and Plex. Despite not having any good quality versions out there, Abby has still become an underground Blaxploitation classic. I asked YouTube creator and director/screenwriter, Tyrone Williams what he believes the lasting legacy of Abby is in the context of both Blaxploitation and horror cinema. He responded, “When it comes to Blaxploitation and horror cinema, Abby leaves behind a legacy of pushing to the forefront a Black woman in a subgenre that they still, to this day, are barely represented in. Her possessed self being the exact opposite of a model housewife in the ’70s is the icing on this supernatural-filled cake.” I couldn’t agree more that there is a significance to Abby that continues to resonate with audiences.

Abby is a Blaxploitation horror gem that remains an underrated classic in cinema history. While it has a controversial legacy, Abby stands as an artifact of its time, pushing boundaries in ways that still spark discussion. Fifty years later, it remains a dynamic, provocative film that deserves more recognition and an appreciation within the context of horror and Blaxploitation cinema.

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Kristie Felice is a writer, film critic, and co-host of In Love with Horror where she and her husband discuss and review all things horror. She is a mom to four human children and a German Shepherd named Auggie. When she is not talking all things horror and doing her part to uplift marginalized voices in the horror space, she enjoys traveling, eating good food, and reading a good novel.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Netflix in March

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Netflix did not give me a lot to work with this month. I may have also zoomed through many of my favorite things on the platform these last few months. So, many of these are titles I have been meaning to check out, and I hope they are worth the wait. However, I cannot promise the carnage, chaos, and confusion I normally provide for this column. This means you’ll have to forgive me for having less razzle dazzle and a little more uncertainty while I list some stuff off the less beaten path. Gather around, and I’ll tell you what I am trying to get into this March!

Archive (2020)

In 20238, George Almore’s newest AI prototype is nearly complete. However, this humanesque machine is also hiding one of George’s secrets that must remain hidden. While I love some British sci-fi and believe we should watch as many of the 2020 movies that slid under our quarantined radar, I’m pulling up for another reason. I want to see Theo James in something that isn’t The Monkey. Literally. I didn’t enjoy that movie, and I seem to be the last person I know who was unfamiliar with James before that. So, I’m trying to rectify that and see what he can do in anything else. Hopefully, after catching this on Netflix, I will have a new movie that comes to mind when he is mentioned. Fingers crossed, friends!

Green Room (2016)

A punk rock band gets trapped in a venue where skinheads want to kill them. So many people have told me this movie is worth my time, but because it’s always too soon for violent racists in this decade, I keep putting it off. However, I am so curious to see what Patrick Stewart, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, and the late Anton Yelchin are doing in this movie. Green Room is also one of the few A24 horror movies that I have not seen, which makes it even more intriguing. While I doubt 2026 will calm down enough for this not feel too real, I think it’s time for me to be brave and cross this movie off my list already. So, I might have to grab a drink, a weighted blanket, and remote so I can open Netflix.

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M3GAN 2.0 (2025)

Two years after M3GAN’s murder spree, she is rebuilt by her creator to take down a military-grade weapon made from her stolen tech. Is this movie as good as the original written by Akela Cooper? Obviously not. No one can do what Cooper does and we shouldn’t hold people to that very high bar. Is this movie way too damn long? Also, yes. However, was there still a lot of fun to be had along the way? I thought so. While M3GAN 2.0 isn’t the sequel we wanted, I’m happy to rewatch it for free at home. We lose a lot of the threads I loved in the first one, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t the new Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day anyway. In a perfect world, Akela Cooper will reopen the computer (after receiving a very large check from Blumhouse) and give us a third installment to bring our dancing diva back into the horror fold.

Life After Beth (2014)

A man discovers his dead girlfriend is back, and that might be for the worst. I never watched this horror comedy, but I’m sad and hoping Aubrey Plaza can change that. After all, if she can’t wake us up after a long winter, then who can? I also imagine Plaza as a zombie is kind of great. Along for the ride is Molly Shannon, so between the two of them, I expect some chuckles and guffaws. Maybe the powers that be at Netflix knew we could all use a laugh, and that’s why this is waiting for us on the other side of February. Or possibly they wanted to apologize for that last season of Stranger Things. Or maybe it’s just a wacky coincidence, and I’m looking for meaning where there is none. Either way, I have a date with this movie, and you might want to check it out too.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

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Getting bitten by a werewolf turns life upside down for a high school student and his best friend. Hear me out! I doubt there is a world where I will watch all six seasons of this. Hell, I doubt I’ll even finish the first season. However, I skipped this MTV moment when it originally aired. Which is why I didn’t know who Dylan O’Brien was when Send Help was announced. So, I’m using this Netflix account to see where he started now that I have seen him in something. You can join me in this or mark your time as safe and watch something else. I don’t blame you either way, and I hope you’ll respect my privacy during this adventure.

That’s what I’m doing with my Netflix account this month. Here is hoping April gives us more scary movies because some of us deserve it. Most importantly, I deserve it.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in March 2026

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Shudder is still that girl even in March. Our beloved streamer is adding classics like The Fog and Messiah of Evil. They are also adding a couple of films that are precious to my generation, like May. The app always has an eclectic lineup, but this month is an embarrassment of riches. At least if you are like me, and looking at a list of movies you have had on your watch list forever. That is why it took me a hot minute to figure out which five titles should be this month’s priority. However, I cracked the code and think I have something old, something new, and definitely at least a couple of things that will turn blue. Check out what I am trying to see on Shudder this month. Also, be sure to let me know if you are as geeked about these titles as I am.

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

The Last Horror Film (1982)

A New York taxi driver stalks an actress during the Cannes Film Festival. I love 80s slashers and have been on a quest to watch them all. This one has eluded me for a couple of years, and I am so happy Shudder is finally letting me cross it off my list. I am not expecting this to break my top 1980s slashers. I’m not even counting on it to be one of the best movies about a stalked actress of that era. However, I’m excited to finally see it for myself with an adult beverage in hand.

You can watch The Last Horror Film on March 1st.

Fade to Black (1980)

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A film fanatic begins murdering people who betray him while stalking his idol. I finally caught this on Shudder in the last couple of years and will be using its return as an excuse to rewatch it. Very few movies cater to the slasher kids and film nerds as well as this one. Fade to Black is the kind of psychological horror comedy that is the reason 1980s horror remains unmatched. The costumes, the obsession, and the kills are the most fun you can possibly have on a Shudder Saturday. Do yourself a favor and hit play immediately. 

You can watch Fade to Black on March 9th.

Hostile Dimensions (2023)

Two filmmakers travel through alternate dimensions seeking out the truth about a missing graffiti artist. This found footage film has been on my list for years, and I am so grateful that Shudder is finally letting me see it. I have heard so many great things, and the FOMO was killing me. Hopefully, Hostile Dimensions lives up to the hype. Otherwise, I have to ask my nearest and dearest to explain themselves and then stop accepting recommendations from them. Will it scratch the found footage itch I have this month? There is only one way to find out, and that is why I will be sat the day this drops on the app.

You can watch Hostile Dimensions on March 9th.

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1000 Women in Horror (2025)

Women have been an integral part of the genre since Mary Shelley started thinking about Frankenstein. However, we do not always get the credit and respect we deserve. Which is why I am thrilled 1000 Women in Horror is celebrating the badasses who revolutionized horror films. Not only is the documentary opening the libraries for us, but it’s also bringing current faves along for the ride. Akela Cooper, Toby Poser, and Jenn Wexler are just some of the names I know who are about to inspire so many women to get serious about making their movies. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that Shudder is adding this to its lineup. 

You can watch 1000 Women in Horror on March 20th.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

College friends backpacking through Britain are attacked by a werewolf. As a werewolf film enthusiast, I know they are not all made equally. That is one of the many reasons why this is easily one of the best werewolf movies the genre has. The transformation alone is worth the price of a Shudder subscription. So, it shouldn’t come as a shock that this is one of the five titles I’m most excited to see this month. Hell, it’s probably in everyone’s top five to be completely honest. I cannot think of a better way to close this month out than with a top-tier werewolf flick.

You can watch An American Werewolf in London on March 31st.

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I told you, Shudder is that girl. Whether you’re on spring break, taking a mental health day, or just dissociating, this app has got you covered. Make sure you dig into some of this sick, twisted, and cool cinema. As for me, I will see you next month with more recommendations.

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