Watching "Abby" I was never really too sure about what genre of film I was specifically getting into, and my mindset of how I was reacting to the film ran a little bit schizophrenic. Some parts of the movie are genuinely creepy, and other parts are campy; but they are so in a way that seems to deliberately entice laughter and not any kind of scare. The meshing of horror and comedy did not distract me, however, from how I overall liked the film. I really dug the thing. As a horror film, it works with visuals, sound effects, and some dark, creepy atmospheres. The comedy comes in during scenes where the possessed Abby spouts off lines to her husband like "I ain't your ho." Regardless of the intention of the film, it is fun as hell to watch.
The movie is a 1974 blaxploitation rip-off of "The Exorcist" and has had a reputation from some as being one of the worst of the blaxploitation genre, and from others as a near lost classic. I think that a lot of those who dub it as the latter category may only say that because a genuine copy of the film had gone nearly 30 years without being released, therefore leveling it to some in the classic status; but in no way in hell could this be considered the worst of anything. It's almost unique in it's own right. Despite several scenes that are directly inspired by "The Exorcist," I never felt like I was watching something that was trying to be the same exact movie as "The Exorcist," or even trying to get the same reaction from the crowd. Some even forget how initially profitable this movie was. Made for roughly about $500,000, it grossed $9 million before being yanked out of theaters by Warner Brothers who attempted to sue the makers of "Abby" for ripping "The Exorcist." I wonder what WB thought of "Beyond the Door"?
Carol Speed gives a very very entertaining performance as the title character, though a lot of the compliments there can be handed to both the person overdubbing her voice in the possession scene, and also the sound editor who splices them together. But it's all Speed when we get the overcoat wearing possessed Abby leaping in slow-mo across the bar room. She has a lot of fun in this movie. Speed stars as the wife of a preacher (Terry Carter), and spends her time singing in the church choir and playing marriage counselor to young couples. Her father in law (a commanding William Marshall), who is also a reverend, is on a trip in Nigeria along with some student archaeologists to find a connection between Christianity and African spirits. When a small box is discovered in the caves, the first thing that they naturally do is open it. Come on, who wouldn't go for the mystery box, honestly? In one of the movie's creepier scenes, the box releases a force in the caves that sends many of the students flying to their deaths, by being crushed against the rocks.
As a revenge on the elder reverend, Abby is possessed by the box demon, just as she and her husband are moving into their new home. Some rather typical "Exorcist" style scenes take place here. At various points, a seconds long cutaway to a demonic face is shown between some shots. This demon face has make up along the lines of that "Dead Presidents" movie from the 90's. There's the obligatory scene where Abby is taken to the hospital and various brain scans are being performed on her. Everything turns out crystal clear. Then there's vomiting, cursing, telekinesis, and a final exorcism. The good news though, is that this movie atleast completely makes the cursing and the exorcism all it's own, especially the exorcism. Plus, it stays clear of confining itself to Abby being locked in a bedroom. For much of the film, she is on the move.
A lot of the entertainment here simply comes from the dialogue alone, much of which is very very funny. Upon counseling a newlywed couple, Abby looks at her husband and brags about how she is going to take him upstairs and "f**k the s**t" out of him. Later on, her husband tries to calm her down a bit, even though she demonically yells at him by calling him an impotent son of a b*tch. When her father-in-law comes to inspect her weird new mood swings, she lightens the mood by feeling up his crotch; and I kid you not, one other scene has her grabbing a person by the arms, swinging them around, while singing "here we go round the merry-go-round." Much of the latter part of the film has her husband and her brother (Austin Stoker of "Assault on Precinct 13") searching for her at all the discos and bars while she hits on unsuspecting men.
This leads to the infamous final exorcism scene, truly a marvel in its camp value alone, and is probably one of the sole reasons that make this the cult classic that it is. The scene starts off with a bang as Abby taunts the bar patrons and asks what they all think of her powers. Cut to the great William Marshall showing up at the door and exclaiming "not very much." In a reaction of pure genius, Abby turns slowly and rather creepily belts out "hello, motherf***er." Yes, the exorcism is about to go underway, and it all takes place in this disco bar, under the ball of course. What would have made it even better is if the disco music was still playing. But regardless, bottles break, mirrors shatter, wind blows all over the place, the disco ball shines, and obscenities are enjoyed by all.
A problem that I do have here is from the current DVD release of the film. It has been released on an affordable DVD from a company called CineFear. I've never heard of this company off the top of my head, and I'm sure that I've never bought anything from them in the past. The DVD comes with a trailer, tv spot, a still gallery, radio spot, and even an essay. But just look at the quality of the video transfer. Just try to look at it if you dare. There are some movies that I don't mind watching with some grain or dirt spots. A lot of times that can actually add to the genre viewing experience. This here though is a little too much. This transfer doesn't look like it was unearthed from just any vault. It looks like it was taken out of a safe from the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle and sat right next to the snuff film from "8mm." The sound pops all over the place, frames are missing left and right, and you get that classic green line going down the screen like my TV has suddenly become radioactive. That's all putting it lightly. This is one of the worst transfers I have ever come across, making a typical Brentwood release or the "Super Kung Fu Set" look like something of Anchor Bay calibur.
I almost forgot to mention this part of the DVD. Look at the box cover. Go ahead, look it up over at amazon.com. You see those faces in the boxes near the bottom of the picture? There's Austin Stoker, where underneath it reads "Her Brother." Under Terry Carter it reads "Her Husband." William Marshall is on there as well. But check out that other guy on the cover, where underneath it reads "Her Friend." This character is absolutely nowhere to be found or even mentioned anywhere during this entire film. Mystery Friend indeed! Now that's funny.
Abby Doesn t Need a Man...The Devil Is Her Lover Now!William Girdler s blaxploitation answer to The Exorcist (1973) is a down and dirty, dollar store ...More at HotMovieSale.com
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