‘Abigail’ is a horror film about a bunch of kidnappers holding a young dancer for ransom. They find themselves locked in a house with a small monster. These crooks go to an ancient house and hold a 12-year-old girl captive. They intend to extract a large ransom from her wealthy father. They only need to watch her for 24 hours. But, as night falls, all of the house’s doors and windows automatically lock. They understand they’re trapped. The dancer reveals her fangs and begins to drain the blood of the kidnappers one by one.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett co-direct the horror movie. It combines comedy with frightening and terrifying sequences, and there is a lot of gore. The story is set in Boston and takes place in a large mansion, creating a terrifying and closed-off atmosphere. The film employs frightening locales and set pieces to induce horror. This leads many to question where it was filmed.
Where was “Abigail” Filmed?
“Abigail” was filmed in Dublin, Ireland. The main filming began on June 30, 2023, under the working title ‘Abducting Abigail.’ However, the filming was halted in July owing to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Fortunately, the film crew had shot the movie in order. This means they might begin post-production for the first two segments of the film during the strike. Watching the first half helped the team identify areas for improvement in the second half. They hired stunt choreographer Wade Allen to make the action scenes more exciting. Filming proceeded after the strike and was completed by December 15, 2023.
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin looks comparable to Boston, with a river running through it. This made it an ideal location to film ‘Abigail.’ Some sequences were shot on city streets and on constructed sets. However, the most of the filming took place at one location: Glenmaroon House in Castleknock. This mansion sits on the outskirts of Dublin’s Phoenix Park. It was erected in 1905 by Arthur Ernest Guinness, the son of the famed brewer Edward Guinness.
Ernest Guinness used the house for parties. He built another residence adjacent to it and connected the two with a footbridge. Glenmaroon House is old and has changed hands several times, making it ideal for a horror film. The house’s cobblestone border, black fence, metal gate, and moss-covered building create a creepy ambiance. The interior of the home is Tudor-style, with wooden floors, chandeliers, stained glass, and several stairs and corridors. It resembles an old vampire’s dwelling.
When the home was utilized as a convent school, it was expanded to include a tiny church. In one scene, Sammy falls into a hole filled with floating bodies and sludge. This was actually filmed in the house’s indoor pool, which the production crew transformed into a terrifying dumping ground. Actress Kathryn Newton stated, “Oh my gosh, the most traumatic experience I’ve ever had, in the best coolest way.” I had to dive into a lake of bodies. It was the best scene I had ever filmed. “The most iconic scene of my career.”
Another room in the house, the auxiliary kitchen, was converted into a bloody feeding area. Susie Cullen, the production designer, decked it with guts and organs hanging from the ceiling and walls.
The rest of the house was furnished with spooky objects such as taxidermy, mounted deer heads, antler chandeliers, and a big stag sculpture in front. Even before the horror scenes began, these decorations created a terrifying atmosphere. The convoluted corridors, staircases, and numerous chambers contributed to the spooky mood. The production team used the entire mansion as a set for the film.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Abigail
Q:Where was “Abigail” filmed?
A: “Abigail” was primarily filmed in Dublin, Ireland. Most of the scenes were shot at Glenmaroon House in Castleknock, an old mansion on the edge of Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
Q: When was “Abigail” filmed?
A: The filming of “Abigail” began on June 30, 2023. However, the production was interrupted due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike in July. Filming resumed after the strike and was completed by December 15, 2023.
Q: Why was Dublin chosen as the filming location for “Abigail”?
A: Dublin was chosen because its cityscape is similar to Boston’s, with a river flowing through it. The Glenmaroon House in Dublin, with its old and spooky appearance, was perfect for creating the horror atmosphere needed for the film.
Q: What is the release date of “Abigail”?
A: “Abigail” was released by Universal Pictures in the United States on April 19, 2024. The film was later released on premium video on demand by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on May 7, 2024.
Q: Who are the directors of “Abigail”?
A: “Abigail” is co-directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, known for their work in blending comedy with thrilling and scary scenes.
