By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Cassie Keet
Starring: Jordan Lane Shappell | Molly Jackson | Olivia Taylor Dudley | Riley Dandy | Shayn Herndon
Year: 2026
Running time: 109
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31974215/reference/
Brett says: “Real-life-based horror doesn’t always need to check the box of the horror genre to send a chill down one’s spine. Sometimes, it’s the weight of memory, trauma, and belief that proves more unsettling. ABIGAIL BEFORE BEATRICE is such a film: a haunting and heartbreaking, beautiful depiction of a woman confronting a past she can’t outrun, from writer/director Cassie Keet with striking sensitivity and style.
“We’ve seen films about people escaping cults, breaking free from indoctrination and rebuilding new lives. What about the ones left behind, still tethered emotionally to a system that once gave them purpose? That’s the quietly devastating question posed here. What’s more is that it shies away from sensationalism often showcased in such a topic, allowing its emotional stakes to take center stage in more of a slow-burn type of thriller.<
“Olivia Taylor-Dudley gives an exceptional lead performance as Abigail. The portrayal of such a fragile sense of stability splintering before our very eyes is goosebumps-worthy, along with the reveal of the meaning of the title of the film. Dudley plays Abigail with an aching restraint—always on the edge of breaking, yet fiercely guarded.
“Every element—from its emotionally layered dialogue to the intimate, almost tactile attention to visual detail—feels purposeful. This is a film that meets a wide range of audience types exactly where they are. Fans of psychological thrillers, character studies, real-world trauma stories, or even arthouse aesthetics will all be able to bite into something meaningful here.
“For audiences who appreciated Sean Durkin’s MARTHA MACY MAY MARLENE, this film could feel familiar but still has its own in voice. This is a real-life horror that echoes the loudest when whispered.
“4 CATS OUT OF 5”