Abby (film)
Abby is a 1974 American blaxploitation supernatural horror film about a woman who is possessed by a Yoruba sex spirit. The film stars Carol Speed as the title character, William H. Marshall and Terry Carter. It was directed by William Girdler, who co-wrote the film's story with screenwriter Gordon Cornell Layne.
| Abby | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | William Girdler |
| Written by | G. Cornell Layne |
| Produced by | William Girdler Mike Henry G. Cornell Layne |
| Starring | Carol Speed William Marshall Terry Carter Austin Stoker |
| Cinematography | William Asman |
| Edited by | Henry Asman Corky Ehlers |
| Music by | Robert O. Ragland |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $100,000 (inflated figure reported as $472,529) |
| Box office | $2.6 million |
The film was a financial success, considering its modest budget and the times, grossing $4 million in a month, but was pulled from theaters after the film's distributor, American International Pictures, was accused of copyright violation by Warner Bros., which saw the film as being derivative of The Exorcist and filed a lawsuit against AIP. Girdler himself told the Louisville Courier Journal: "Sure, we made Abby to come in on the shirttail of The Exorcist." The film is also inspired by 1968's Rosemary's Baby.