LogFAQs > #980015947

5. Possession (1981 / 142 points)
Directed by / Screenplay by: Andrzej uawski
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Why Its Significant - Possession is a harrowing exploration of marital breakdown, psychological collapse, and the terrifying ambiguity of possession. Drawing on slow, realistic drama, with cosmic horror & body horror influences, its horror lies in the realism of a fracturing marriage and doesn't shy away from the emotional brutality, the petty arguments, the desperate attempts to salvage a dying relationship. Possession presents a grotesque creature as metaphor, common in horror, but Possession took it to more disgusting & nightmarish heights and continues to be a point of reference for many modern day filmmakers. From the psychological transformative horror of Black Swan to the surreal family breakdown of Hereditary, from the break-up of Midsommar to the surprising creature romance featured in Spring, even extended to the intense symbolism of the Silent Hill series.

The Rankers
Karo - 1
Evilordexdeath - 2
Mythiot - 2
Lightning - 4
Seginustemple - 6
Snake - 7
Plasmabeam - 8
Rockus - 9
Fortybelowsummer - 10
Johnbobb - 19
Bitto - 20
Jcgamer107 - 26
Inviso - 28

Karo - A couple begins to have marital issues that soon spiral out of control into some truly frightening and psychotic behavior.

The film is riveting to follow and there is this foreboding sense of malice emanating from our two leads, and I am constantly left wondering who is really the crazy one (or under some sort of demonic influence, given the movie's title).

Eventually it is revealed that there are these creatures who apparently transform into an idealized version of a person's loved ones... or perhaps they are a personification of mental illness. Honestly, the story works out either way and that is part of what makes it brilliant.

It is a unique and strange ride that takes us on a harrowing journey of twisted obsession, and I am still not exactly sure of what I watched but I think it may have been profound.

Evilordexdeath - I'm pretty sure this is art, so you already know it's getting some VERY low placements on at least a few lists. It's not exactly a fun movie to watch, particularly with how the first 40 minutes or so basically consist of back-to-back domestic violence scenes that are a little too real if you grew up around that sort of thing - or probably even if you didn't. It transitions from a breakup film to an odd horror story about doppelgngers and demonic possession which are probably a metaphor for either divorce and familial alienation, the alienation of European nations by the Iron Curtain as symbolized by the setting in West Berlin and the visual presence of the Berlin Wall, or a little bit of both. It's certainly engaging to watch, with both leads being absolutely unhinged and a lot of tension coming from the expectation that they'll do something batshit insane at any given moment, (that scene under the subway in particular is incredible) and I can definitely see myself thinking about it for a long time to come, but I'd be hesitant to recommend it to someone else, put in on for company, or even watch it again on my own.

Lightning - Hes very tired. He made love to me all night.

Possession is a film I was only recently made aware of before beginning this project but am delighted to have had the chance to watch because it has become a new favourite of mine. The film is very abstract but provides a look into a mind reeling from divorce, which director Andrzej Zulawski was going through at the time. This is a filmmaker putting the interior of their mind on display with all the beauty and the ugliness that this entails. Here we see divorce rendered as apocalyptic, the cold war escalating to a nuclear exchange used to sell the point.

At the centre of the film there is Isabelle Adjanis tremendous performance. What she does here is truly magnetic, making every little moment or small line seem anguished. In particular the famous underground miscarriage scene is like nothing Id seen before. In this scene she appears to become a puppet as her body is taken over, seemingly the possession of the title. At the end of the day this is a film about how our lives get taken over by others and put out of our control. Accordingly the film starts with a normal situation and escalated to world ending chaos. This is helped by a strong lead performance by Sam Neill, who starts as a cool, collected spy and descends into madness.

It would of course be remiss to not mention the Lovecraftian monster Anna has sex with. Its a truly disturbing sight, brilliantly realised by the effects team, and it works to show the sheer disgust one may have at the idea of their partner with another. After a while it slowly morphs into Sam Neill, implying that at the end all of our relationships morph into the same thing and fulfil the same parts in our lives. This just highlights the fear of replacement at the heart of the film, it is a movie about losing yourself and being replaced by another. This film is impeccably crafted with imagery and moments not soon to be forgotten.

5/5

Seginustemple - Love it, my favorite from the list that I hadn't seen yet. On one level a breakup story charged with anxiety about the sexual revolution, the iron curtain, secularization, more simply a batshit gross-out monster flick about the principal actors competing to see who can deliver the most histrionic, spasmodic performance. Isabelle Adjani is the clear winner, she is genuinely disturbing. I know hindsight is 20/20, but when she takes a dump in that subway tunnel...you can just tell the Berlin Wall isn't gonna last. I dig the sterile visual style of it all, stark whites and baby blues that springload its darkest moments, dutifully hypnotic steadicam beset by turbulent episodes. This movie is emotionally abusive, hard to watch, undeniably powerful

Snake - Possession is a cinematic fever dream, a plunge into the abyss of a disintegrating marriage, a wild ride fueled by phenomenal performances, mind-bending visuals, and a narrative that defies easy explanation. Isabelle Adjani's portrayal of Anna is a riveting descent into madness, a harrowing spectacle as she contorts her body, screams with primal fury, and embodies a level of emotional vulnerability that lays you bare and destroyed by the films end.

uawski on his part crafts a nightmarish world that mirrors the emotional turmoil of the characters. Bleak, industrial landscapes of West Berlin become a physical manifestation of their crumbling relationship. Fever dream sequences blur the lines between reality and delusion. All the meanwhile, the pulsating score by Andrzej Korzyski adds another layer of unease, a constant undercurrent of dread that burrows into your bones.

Possession throws out cryptic clues and refuses to spoon-feed explanations. It wants to provoke, to disturb, to leave you wrestling with your own interpretations. I see it as a reflection of my very deepest anxieties and vulnerabilities. Possessions strange and alluring creation is part of this dark magic. Is it a literal manifestation of Anna's inner turmoil, a grotesque embodiment of their shattered love? Or perhaps a more primal force, feeding off the negativity and despair that permeates their relationship? The creature starts as a pulsating mass of flesh and tentacles but it evolves, morphing into a disturbing doppelganger of Mark. It's a brilliant visual metaphor unlike any other.

From its frenetic pacing to its visceral performances, every element works in harmony to create a cinematic masterpiece that defies categorization. And that is why I love it.