Though there have been countlessDraculamovies in the past, as well as a ton of films that deal with Van Helsing, there’s been nothing quite like director Natasha Kermani’sAbraham’s Boys, which has just been picked up for release by RLJE Films andShudder. Based on the short story byJoe Hill, who also pennedThe Black PhoneandNOS4A2, the new horror flick premieres this weekend at the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, and it’s already generating a lot of buzz because of its unique premise.
Per Bloody Disgusting, RLJE and Shudder have acquired distribution rights toAbraham’s Boys, which serves as a sequelto Bram Stoker’sDracula. The story was first published in the 2004 anthologyThe Many Faces of Van Helsingbefore it was reprinted in Hill’s short story collection that was released in 2005,20th Century Ghosts. Instead of dealing with how the events inDraculaaffected the famed vampire hunter, the plot examines things from the perspective of his children:
“Max and Rudy Van Helsing have spent their lives under the strict and overprotective rule of their father, Abraham. Unaware of his dark past, they struggle to understand his paranoia and increasingly erratic behavior. But when they begin to uncover their father’s history with Dracula, their world unravels, forcing them to confront the terrifying legacy they were never meant to inherit.”
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“We can’t wait to bringAbraham’s Boysto audiences and expand theDraculalegacy with a fresh and compelling perspective,” said Mark Ward, RLJE Films' Chief Acquisitions Officer. “Natasha Kermani has woven a gripping, character-driven horror story that drags Van Helsing’s past into the light — whether his sons are ready for it or not.” Kermani’s past credits include directing the segmentTKNOGDin the anthology filmV/H/S/85, and the 2020 horror movieLucky, which is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 93% rating from critics.
‘Abraham’s Boys’ Stars a ‘Bosch’ Favorite
No wide release date has been set yet forAbraham’s Boys, so it remains unclear when the film will hit theaters, or make its streaming debut on Shudder. What we do know is that it stars Titus Welliver, who is perhaps best known for his timeportraying Detective Harry Bosch in theBoschfranchiseon Prime Video. Also featured are Jocelin Donahue (The House of the Devil), Judah Mackey (The Young And The Restless), Aurora Perrineau (Westworld), and Brady Hepner (The Black Phone).
“It was a joy to bring Joe Hill’s dark, gothic story to the screen on location in California, with a fantastic Los Angeles cast and crew,” said Kermani in a statement of her own. “I’m so excited to now be able to share the film with audiences all over the world alongside my friends at RLJE Films and Shudder.”
Shudder and RLJE have a long history together, with the duo releasing such hits asSuitable Flesh, the Nicolas Cage filmArcadian, and the horror comedy slasher movieBloody Axe Wound, which recently debuted on the streaming service a couple of weeks ago. We’ll have more news onAbraham’s Boys, including a release date and trailer, as it becomes available.
