Written by Kianna Best on Apr 23, 2024. Posted in Production News

Abigail films at eerie mansion in Ireland

Universal’s horror film Abigail hit theatres on 19 April. Reviving the vampire genre with its hints of comedy and all the necessary gore, the film stars Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Alisha Weir as the titular character. At the helm of the project are Ready or Not and Scream VI filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.  Filming for Abigail predominantly took place in Ireland at the Guinness manor, taking advantage of the country's 32% filming incentive.

Combining the aesthetics of 30’s era horrors such as Dracula’s Daughter with the comedic comradery of a John Hughes 80’s flick, Abigail’s setting contributes to the narrative through its armour adorned walls and frightening taxidermy appearance. Keeping the setting of the fearsome scenes to one location, filming for Abigail took place at Dublin Ireland’s Guinness Manor. The ancestral home of the Guinness family, located in Luggala Ireland and surrounded by the Wicklow Mountains, has been known for its staggering interiors, an evident drawing factor for the filming of the gory feature.

The Tudor revival building features a hauntingly traditional aesthetic with its large windows, wooden beams and archways that lead to every corner of the house. After suspension due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, filming resumed at the end of July until December both on site at the manor and utilising sound stage space. Ireland’s 32% tax credit has been a massive draw for international productions in the past year including Paramount’s Dungeons and Dragons and Old Guy starring Lucy Liu and Christoph Waltz.

Abigail centres around the unravelling of scenarios after a group of criminals kidnap the daughter of a powerful underworld figure. After retreating to an isolated mansion, they soon discover that the little girl they are locked in there with is no ordinary child. Written by Guy Busick and Stephen Shields, the horror film is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Other cast members include Dan Stevens, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and William Catlett.

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures