Gene Farber – Abigail

By starrymag | June 5, 2023

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise of your new film Abigail.

A) Abigail is a coming-of-age story set in Alabama suburb in the 1970’s, with dark and sinister undertones. It deals with bullying and ultimately with revenge.

 

Q) In Abigail you play a mysterious man named Eddie. How did this project first catch your attention?

A) After working with Ava [Cantrell], who plays the leading role of Abigail and Bryan Cantrell (producer) on a previous project, we became good friends. So, when the role of Eddie came about, they approached me and asked if I’d be interested. After reading and loving the script, I joined the cast.

 

Q) What was your initial reaction to the Abigail script?

A) I enjoyed reading the script. It was very different from other scripts I’ve read, and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the character of Eddie. It’s set in the 70s, which intrigued me as well. I find the 1970s in America a fascinating time, worthy of exploration.

 

Q) Talk about working with director Melissa Vitello.

A) I really enjoyed working with Melissa Vitello. As a director, her unique ability to guide the story and yet allow the actors the freedom to find their own authentic voice in telling of that story is unparalleled. She was both professional and yet extremely approachable and collaborative. It was a real treat.

 

Q) Abigailtakes place in the 1970’s. What do you think it is about this era that makes it the perfect setting for a violent thriller?

A) The 70’s were a really a fascinating time, especially in American culture and specifically in American cinema. It was a time of political and ideological upheavals, which translated into the kind of movies audiences were gravitating towards and as a result the type of movies film makers were creating. It was the heyday of the horror genre. Jaws, The Exorcist and Halloween are prime examples. So, to set Abigail in the 70’s was a perfect fit.

 

Q) Eddie is a complicated man with layered motivations. What did you bring to his portrayal that wasn’t in the script?

A) The character I play, Eddie, is written as a mysterious stranger. Not much is revealed about him until the end of the film. As a result, I had to give him a full and rich backstory which wasn’t in the script. The one thing I knew, from reading the script, is he is a devoted and protective father. Being a father myself, I tapped into that element. I also used animal imagery, a wolf protecting his pack as an example, to give Eddie that visceral and animalistic edge.

 

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film in Abigail?

A) Without revealing too much of the story, the macabre reunion between father and daughter was one of my favorite scenes to work on in the film. Ava Cantrell and I played father and daughter in another film and the chemistry between us as a father/daughter duo is a palpable and I hope evident in the movie.

 

Q) Abigail touches upon themes of family, bullying and revenge. What do you hope viewers take away from the film?

A) I hope audiences see beyond the violence and gore and take away the core message of the film, which is bullying may and could lead to some serious consequences to all parties involved.

 

Q) You’re no stranger to intense, high energy action films. How did your background in the action genre translate into horror for you?

A) It is true that I gravitate towards and have played highly charged and intense characters in many other projects; from Captain America: Civil War to the Call of Duty. These experiences fit perfectly into the horror genre for me; high stakes, life or death situations, which in order to play truthfully, I had to go deep into my own psyche and explore some dark parts of my own life experiences.

 

Q) What other projects are you currently working on?

A) I’m currently working on a few projects, one of which is another highly anticipated video game franchise. However, due to a non-disclosure agreement, I cannot go into further detail. Stay tuned, though.

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and followers of your work? 

A) I would like to thank all the followers and fans of my work for their continued support. Means a lot. Thanks a lot.