Brooklyn Horror 2025: ‘Abigail Before Beatrice’ nails the traumatic impact of cults

From The Seventh Victim (1943) to Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and Candy Land (2022), cults have been a staple in the horror genre since the dawn of cinema. There’s not much that hasn’t been tapped to elicit chills and thrills. A film needs to be truly exceptional to stand out these days. With Abigail Before Beatrice, playing this year’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, writer/director Cassie Keet excels in bringing a fresh perspective to the classic cult template. Where her previous film, Scream Therapy, which also dealt with a cult, went full-on camp, Abigail Before Beatrice offers a raw and grounded examination of the psychological impact of surviving a cult can have on its victims.

The story focuses on Beatrice (Olivia Taylor Dudley), years after cult leader Grayson (Shayn Herndon) was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. She has yet to shake the distorted reality that he did nothing wrong. In fact, she still expresses a deep infatuation with him. When another cult survivor, Abigail (Riley Dandy), shows up, she reveals that Grayson has been released from prison. She doesn’t share the same delusions as Beatrice and frets over her friend’s fragile mental state. Abigail also confesses that she received a letter from him that read, simply: I love you. I’m sorry. Well, Beatrice doesn’t handle this news very well and lashes out.

Keet cuts between the past and the present, offering the viewer ample backstory and what exactly led to Grayson’s imprisonment. We see the arrival of Abigail at the secluded home, far removed from civilization and sequestered by rows of trees. Grayson slowly manipulates her into believing that what she really needs is to abandon her life, accept him as a literal god, and sacrifice everything for him. She even smashes her phone, further separating her from the life she once knew. When Grayson recruits an underage girl named Georgina (Molly Jackson), the cracks begin to show and reveal that something isn’t right with what he’s doing. As trust is betrayed, it becomes clear that Grayson has claimed ownership over the young women, and it’s far from a safe place.

With a tight, emotionally resonant script, Abigail Before Beatrice should put Cassie Keet on everyone’s radar. Her distinctive voice shines through every single scene. It might be her sophomore feature film, but it’s as though she’s been doing this for decades. It also helps that she has Dudley and Dandy in the cast. Both offer nuanced performances that make you rethink what it means to be brainwashed.

Abigail Before Beatrice has all the makings of a hit. Whether it gets a limited theatrical release or goes straight to streaming, it will at least create conversation online. From how it’s shot (shout-out to cinematographer William Tanner Sampson) to the location and performances, the buzzy indie film easily emerges as one of 2025’s best.