Abby (1974)

A possession film about a marriage counselor who becomes possessed by a Demon of Sexuality, when her father in law, an Exorcist, freed it while in Africa. He returns home, along with his ... See full summary »

Director:

William Girdler

Writers:

William Girdler (story), Gordon Cornell Layne (screenplay) (as G. Cornell Layne)

Stars:

Carol Speed, William Marshall, Terry Carter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Marshall	...	Bishop Garnet Williams
Terry Carter	...	Rev. Emmett Williams
Austin Stoker	...	Det. Cass Potter
Carol Speed	...	Abby Williams
Juanita Moore	...	Miranda 'Momma' Potter
Charles Kissinger	...	Dr. Hennings
Elliott Moffitt	...	Russell Lang
Nathan Cook	...	Tafa Hassan
Nancy Lee Owens	...	Mrs. Wiggins
William P. Bradford	...	Dr. Rogers (as Billy Bradford)
Joann Holcomb	...	Lois
Claude Fulkerson	...	Benny
Bill Wilson	...	Dan
Charles Broaddus	...	Joe (as Chuck Broadus)
Don Henderson	...	Flip

Storyline

A possession film about a marriage counselor who becomes possessed by a Demon of Sexuality, when her father in law, an Exorcist, freed it while in Africa. He returns home, along with his son and a policeman to perform an African Exorcism on her.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | one word title | forename as title | demon | exorcism | 

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Taglines:

...the story of a woman possessed!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Blaxorcist

Filming Locations:

Marengo Cave, Marengo, Indiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP), Mid-America Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in Louisville, Kentucky, the production was temporarily halted when a series of tornadoes ripped through Louisville on 4 April 1974. Carol Speed recalled taking refuge with Juanita Moore in the lobby of a hotel that had no tornado shelter. They weathered the storm wrapped in blankets to protect them in case one of the large glass windows exploded.

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Quotes

The Demon's voice: Whaddya think of my powers now?
Bishop Garnet Williams: Not very much!
The Demon's voice: Hello, motherfucker!

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Connections

Featured in Mansfield 66/67 (2017)

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Soundtracks

Gone Woman
Music by Robert O. Ragland (uncredited)
Lyrics by William Girdler (uncredited)
Sung by George Gentre Griffin

User Reviews

Wild Blaxploitation Twist On The Exorcist!

ABBY DOESN'T NEED A MAN -- THE DEVIL IS HER LOVER NOW!! This very rare film which I was lucky enough to see the one week it played here in downtown Los Angeles during the Seventies (the prints were destroyed soon after the makers of The Exorcist sued for copyright infringement and won) is not only a great entry into the possession genre, but also one of the prime examples of true blaxploitation cinema. It stars William Marshall of Blacula fame as the exorcist, Carol Speed from The Big Bird Cage as the possessed woman, Austin Stoker from Assault On Precinct Thirteen, Terry Carter, and Juanita Moore from Imitation Of Life... truly an exceptional cast brought together in a film that must be seen to be believed.

Carol Speed portrays the girl named Abby who is a minister's wife and marriage counselor, qualities that do not prevent a demon from entering her body in one unusual shower scene. Abby then spouts foul language, goes nuts in a church, scares a white woman to death, jumps a funeral director in a hearse, acts like she's on drugs and generally gets very weird throughout. William Marshall is the man who must deal with the demon, and here his Shakespearean training shows. Austin Stoker is the friend who helps Terry Carter deal with a possessed wife. Juanita for some reason keeps talking about having a good man and eating fried chicken. All the cliches are in this one, and only the truly jaded won't be offended in some way!

SEE Abby throw a man across a room! SEE Abby seduce a man in a hearse! SEE Carol Speed talk like Isaac Hayes! SEE one obviously derivative yet well done scene after another! SEE an exorcism in a disco! SEE Abby fight her way out of a hospital! SEE Juanita Moore look like she wished she was elsewhere! Try and catch this one if you can, and become one of the initiated!