Official synopsis: A woman looking for an end to her suffering, checks in to the House of Abraham, home to a mysterious cult that promises a way out. She soon discovers all is not what it seems and must plan an escape before it’s too late.
Director Lisa Belcher’s House of Abraham is a cult thriller with horror elements that boasts both political and sociological allegories. While the right to die and political parallels are on tap, Belcher and screenwriter/star Lukas Hassel make sure to keep the suspenseful genre-film elements at the forefront.
After a cold open involving a suicide, the story begins in the present with a woman named Dee (Natasha Henstridge) who has received a breast cancer diagnosis. She drives to a remote property where Abraham (Hassel) runs a secretive operation that allows suicidal people to end their lives the way they wish. His assistant Beatrice (Lin Shaye) greets Dee and the other guests for this particular weekend.
The charismatic Abraham comes off as convincing to some of the attendees but sends up red flags for others, including Dee. Although he states that anyone who changes their mind is welcome to leave, Dee becomes suspicious when one such attendee seems not to have left under his own devices.
The performances are quite good, with Henstridge portraying her concerned protagonist wonderfully and Hassel bringing the proper eeriness factor to his role. The always reliable Shaye gets to cut loose and does so in a wild way. The supporting players — including Gary Clarke, Sean Freeland, Khali McDuff-Sykes, William Magnuson, and Marval A. Rex — all turn in solid work.
All the technical aspects are admirable, and the pacing and suspense are timed nicely. The third act alone is well worth recommending House of Abraham for, but there is plenty more to chew on and jaw drop for throughout.
House of Abraham, from Abramorama, debuted in theaters on June 13, 2025.
