Abraham’s Boys (2025) Review

Abraham’s Boys is a continuation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, originally written as a short story by Joe Hill, author of NOS4A2 and The Black Phone. Directed by Natasha Kermani, this film adaptation is a suspenseful trek into the story of a father, his sons, and his dark legacy.

The story follows Abraham Van Helsing, played by Titus Welliver, and his family years after the events of Dracula. In their new home, Abraham and his now wife, Mina (Jocelin Donahue), raise their two sons, Max (Brady Hepner) and Rudy (Judah Mackey). The family seems typical of the time, patriarchal, religious, tight-knit, but also emotionally cold and distant. When their haunting past creeps back into their lives, the Van Helsings’ secrets come to the surface.

This film is a quiet, slow-burning exploration of the complexity of familial ties, history, and purpose. Max goes through his own hero’s journey by way of standing up to his father’s domineering, at times unhinged, behavior. The story also calls into question the legitimacy of the long-standing strength and savvy of the iconic Dr. Van Helsing.

Welliver, Hepner, and Mackey capture the intricacies of father/son relationships in a very authentic way. The brothers depend on each other against their slowly unraveling father and the horrors they are faced with. Welliver’s older Van Helsing commands attention in every scene with his intense delivery, while Hepner and Mackey slowly come into their own strength along with their characters.

Kermani really dug into the details with these characters from their costuming to the look and feel of their personal spaces in the house. This attention to detail, along with the talented cast made Abraham’s Boys a magnetic watch. You feel very connected and almost a part of what this family goes through. It causes you to reflect on what remnants of family trauma you might be carrying, for better or worse.

This was one of the films Love Horror was able to catch during the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans. The historic Prytania Theater couldn’t have been a more perfect venue for this film. The audience of horror fans was entranced by this unique continuation of the vampire classic.
Even though this is more psychological horror than vampire flick, it satisfied the need for spookiness while telling a devastating story about the sins of a father and their effect on his family. Although the pacing was on the slower side and required a more attentive viewing, the suspenseful storytelling easily pulls you in and keeps you for the long haul. Any fan of period pieces, vampires, or psychological horror will appreciate Abraham’s Boys. Prior to its debut at Overlook, the film was acquired by RLJE and Shudder so be on the lookout for its release soon.

Movie Rating:

Abraham’s Boys trailer