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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 February

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It’s still too cold to seriously consider going outside, so I am still in my couch potato era. Cozy, comfort, and Netflix are the three words people will hear me chanting under my breath this month. I also recently finished a group rewatch of Slasher: Solstice and have been looking at the other TV shows currently living on Netflix. Which is why I am looking for the warmth of my next quick binge. That’s right! I’m here with a few shows that could be taken down in one frosty February weekend. Most of them have been on my radar forever, and one of them I want to revisit because it screams lazy Stephen King Sunday. However, what I find most appealing about each of them is that I am guaranteed to lose at least a whole day if it’s a match made in hell. 

Without further ado, here are the five titles I have my evil eye on this month. Check out my five Netflix picks for this February below! Happy binging to all my fellow couch potatoes! 

The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month

Archive 81 (2022)

An archivist finds himself reconstructing the work of a filmmaker and her investigation into a dangerous cult. I missed Archive 81, but have only heard good things about it. Which is why it’s weird it was cancelled after only one season, consisting of eight episodes. The popular show was created by Rebecca Sonnenshine and starred talent like Mamoudou Athie and Matt McGorry. So, I’m long overdue for this Netflix watch and am excited to finally see what all of the fuss is about. 

Castle Rock (2018 – 2019)

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A series set in the town of Castle Rock and inhabited by characters from some of Stephen King’s most infamous works. This is the only show on this streaming guide that I have already seen. However, it’s very cozy, and I want to go back in. While this divisive series wasn’t for everyone, it scratched my King itch better than most of his adaptations. Also, this cast was ridiculously stacked. Where else can you see André Holland, Melanie Lynskey, Bill Skarsgård, Jane Levy, Sissy Spacek, and Lizzy Caplan all play together? I will definitely be revisiting these twenty episodes that make up these two seasons of what the fuckery.

NOS4A2 (2019-2020)

An immortal who feeds on children is threatened by a young woman with a mysterious gift. This show has circled my list forever, and it’s high time I cross it off my list. I also need to know what Zachary Quinto and Ebon Moss-Bachrach were doing during this era of genre TV for research. I’m ready to run through these twenty episodes and report back on my findings. More importantly, I love to see a show with big “fuck them kids” energy. So, fingers crossed, he eats a few kids to keep me leaned in. I need this to be good for so many reasons.

Peaky Blinders (2013 – 2022)

A mob family in 1900s England sews razor blades in their caps and causes a ruckus. I am so ready to find out how this alleged crime drama collected so many horror fans. Is it just because it stars Cillian Murphy? Or is it very bloody and violent due to the razor blades being a key factor? Whatever the case, I’m excited to see all six seasons on Netflix. I plan to take these thirty-six episodes down like it is my job. I also cannot get over how lucky I have been to avoid all spoilers for the show, and I need to jump on it before someone ruins it for me already.

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Reality Z (2020)

When a zombie apocalypse breaks out, a TV studio becomes a shelter for a small band of survivors in Rio de Janeiro. Because of the pandemic, I missed this Brazilian horror show. However, this seems like the kind of international gory zombie situation that I would like to make my new personality. I’m looking forward to seeing if these 10 episodes are one of the few reasons to keep talking to Netflix this year. Fingers crossed it is a scary good time, because we deserve some scares this February. 

So, that’s where you can find me this February. Under a weighted blanket, in front of a TV, and eagerly taking advantage of the shows Netflix has collected. Let me know if any of these titles on my list will be your excuse to stay in this winter, too. Although, I am sure many of you will be revisiting your favorite Mike Flanagan Netflix Originals. Meanwhile, I am trying to get into some new (to me) stuff because the winter of our discontent is upon us. I plan to beat the winter of our discontent by being unreasonably comfortable and drowning in genre shows. I advise you to do the same because the weather outside is frightful and we have no place to go. 

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in February 2026

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Shudder is making February a little more frightening with this month of programming. The streamer is adding indie horror that has been stuck in festival purgatory for a couple of years. The app is also getting a few international movies I need to see, a couple of classics, and one of my favorite overlooked Blaxploitation horror gems. So, it should go without saying that I will be very busy this month.

That is why I am sharing my notes with the class now so I can live every day in February like it is Shudder Saturday. Check out my five picks for the month below now and be prepared to see some weird stuff!

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

J.D.’s Revenge (1976)

A murdered 1940s gangster possesses a young law student 30 years later to get revenge on his killer. This overlooked piece of cinema stars Glynn Turman and Louis Gossett Jr. I caught it last year, and will still argue that it is at the intersection of Blaxploitation and Shakespearean theatre. The plot is plotting, the drama is over the top, and the players are diabolical. Come to laugh at the outfits and stay for the betrayal and outstanding performances. I am especially grateful that Shudder is getting J.D.’s Revenge this month, so people can see a cleaner copy without ad breaks. It is truly a Black History Month miracle. Get into it while you still can.

You can watch J.D.’s Revenge on February 1st.

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Nina Forever (2015)

A suicidal man starts dating a co-worker. However, whenever they have sex his dead girlfriend appears. That premise has my attention, and I will be hitting play on this immediately. I want to watch this dead woman heckle this man and his new girlfriend almost as much as I want anything else in life at the moment. This British horror comedy has my attention, and I hope it is even half as good as I have built it up to be in my head. This is the kind of chaos I expect from Shudder, and I am glad they are one of the few things that I can depend on these days.

You can watch Nina Forever on February 9th.

Kill Your Lover (2024)

A couple’s relationship becomes so toxic that it leads to an acidic battle to the death. Kill Your Lover is a movie that understands the horrors of a bad romance. This movie is sick, this apartment gets dank, and it will remind you that being single is usually for the best. I’m beyond excited to make people watch this now that it is finally on Shudder. After all, how many indie body horror breakup movies will we get in this lifetime? I highly recommend that you watch it with your friends, who should separate and see if it starts an overdue conversation.

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You can watch Kill Your Lover on February 9th.

Hood Witch (2024)

A single mother who smuggles exotic animals and illegal goods develops an app that connects users with spiritual healers. However, when someone uses her app and gets deadly results, her community turns on her. Hood Witch is a lot of anxiety seasoned with somegood for hermoments. They take a witch hunt virtual with the use of apps, cellphones, and internet outrage over misinformation. The thought of your internet ops meeting up to hunt you down is enough to make us break out in a cold sweat. This movie was a fine time when I caught it a couple of years ago. I imagine it has only gotten even more timely as it finally makes its way to Shudder.

You can watch Hood Witch on February 16th.

The Last Sacrifice (2024)

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The Last Sacrifice examines the real-life 1945 murder that inspired The Wicker Man (1973) and jump-started folk horror as we know it. The alarming witchcraft killing of Charles Walton shook its small community, and this true-crime documentary is here to remind us that this popular cult movie is based on a true unsolved murder. The doc also looks into society’s rabid fascination with true crime. How often do we sensationalize something grizzly to the point of losing the humanity of the subject? This documentary has eluded me for months, and I am looking forward to catching it while it’s on Shudder this month. What a time to be a subscriber!

You can watch The Last Sacrifice on February 16th.

Shudder really has something for every day of the month, and I am living. They really thought of every good little ghoul, and that’s why they’re kinda the best. So, it is only polite that we smash the play button on these wicked goodies and tell our friends to do the same.

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