ABRAHAM’S BOYS follows Max and Rudy Van Helsing, who have spent their lives under the strict and overprotective rule of their father, Abraham. Unaware of his dark past, they struggle to understand his paranoia and increasingly erratic behavior. But when they begin to uncover the violent truths behind their father’s history with Dracula, their world unravels, forcing them to confront the terrifying legacy they were never meant to inherit.

For in-depth thoughts on Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story, please see my colleague Phil Walsh’s review from its theatrical debut here.

Video Quality

Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a 2160p presentation with HDR10, which brings out a lot of personality within this surprisingly dazzling palette. We are happy anytime a Shudder title is released on physical media, and it is even sweeter when it makes the cut for a 4K UHD release. The most obvious benefit of this format here is the utilization of HDR to perfect the contrast of the darker settings at night and the brightness of the sunny daytime. This format helps prevent any banding thanks to the deep black levels that do not exhibit any signs of crush. Highlights similarly hold firm with no blooming in the brighter sources.

You also get deeper, more complex colors, with this particular feature bursting at the seams with brilliant, earthy hues. The different shades on display within clothing, the sprawling locale, and other background elements are dialed in just right. Skin tones are very detailed and natural all around. This transfer reveals texture within the fabrics and landscapes that adds depth to the picture. Shudder has released a top-notch 4K UHD Blu-Ray for fans.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with an agreeable DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings out many of the nuances within this world. While dialogue is at the forefront, many moments in the film unfold nearly wordlessly as the track brings the sounds of nature to the forefront. Especially prominent are the rustling of tall grass in the wind and the creaking of the house. The sound design is not overly bombastic, but the gentle sounds are positioned perfectly in the mix. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overpowered by competing sounds. The score sets the mood as it flows through the room with impeccable fidelity. A handful of moments add some pivotal texture to the low end. Everything is a joy to hear on this front. Optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/director Natasha Kermani, cinematographer Julia Swain, editor Gabriel de Urioste and producer James Howard Herron provide a commentary track in which they reflect on the production of the film, the motivations behind the compositions, inspirations for various moments, working with the performers, expanding the short story, and more.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet is provided featuring an introduction from writer Joe Hill and new writing by film programmer and journalist Heidi Honeycutt that gives a thoughtful overview of the film.

Final Thoughts

Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story is a decently compelling slow burn that is rich with atmosphere but somewhat light on following through with some worthwhile execution. The performers are largely very strong, especially the great Titus Welliver in the prime role. The screenplay just does not conjure anything too thrilling to send shivers down your spine. Director Natasha Kermani does an amazing job of bringing some life to the film within her crafting of the feature, and her technical achievements are enough to have her on our radar for future efforts. The film works pretty well as a human drama, but you need to have your expectations in check about what you are getting into. Shudder has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and an informative commentary track. Recommended

Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome/OCN Distribution.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shudder & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.