Possession - Film Review [Scare Fest 2023]

Horror tends to fall into certain categories and ideas that some consider stereotypical of the genre. The best horror comes from places that you wouldn’t quite think of right away as horrific. Concepts and experiences that some see as undesirable but never horrific. That’s where a film like Possession comes into play. A film about a really human situation twisted into a horror narrative. Possession is very much the “Scenes From A Marriage” of horror films.

The simple plot of the film follows a couple’s relationship on the verge of destruction. We’re watching as this relationship is strained and leads to an eventual collapse. The horror stuff comes when the creatures and the doppelgängers come into play, but that isn’t for a while. Much of the thrills come from the tension of the situation and further propelled by the fantastic duel performances of Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill. The performances elevate the film to a place that it something more nuanced than many of the horror films coming out at the same time. It’s very much a character piece that once and a while has some wild or horrific elements.

Some wouldn’t consider this a horror film but instead a horrific domestic drama and I would kinda agree with that. From the way the film was shot to even the way the actors are directed, this film goes against the grain of the genre to present something special. The film has a fluid look to it that makes the moments feel more real and raw. It’s one of those films that I could see traditional horror genre fans not being the most high on as it spends a lot of its time in long unrelenting scenes of spousal disagreements and sometimes violence. It doesn’t follow a simple narrative structure and tends to focus more on the feelings attached to the scenes.

It has this unique flair to the presentation that keeps you invested throughout as the film develops into a mystery about who the secret lover is. The film itself is a downward spiral narrative with things becoming more wild and complex as the film goes on. The most infamous scene is that of Isabelle in a train station having a full on panic episode. That is probably the best scene as it shows the film’s artistic genius on full blast while also digging deep into the interpersonal horror present throughout the film.

Possession is one of those films that I would recommend to horror fans with a caveat, that being that the film isn’t really horror. The film has some truly wild moments that feel very genre, but most of the scares are interpersonal affairs between the characters. The final act ramps up the genre touches, but until then it’s more a domestic thriller that really works. If you’re looking for a mostly grounded horror film that hits on an area that most don’t closely associate with “horror”, than Possession might very well be your movie.

The Rating