Welcome back to Dark Corners Lockdown,
a rough guide to streaming horror to distract you from the real horror.
The Possession was recommended to us by Starfire1 on Youtube,
it’s available on Netflix, produced by Sam Raimi, and it does very much what it says in the title.
Divorced Dad Clyde, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan
takes his two daughters out to buy stuff for his new house
when younger daughter Emily finds a cool looking wooden box.
You don’t have to be a horror fan to guess what happens next.
#whisper# 'Emily'
Emily starts behaving oddly,
'Emily, slow down.'
and pretty soon...
This is based on a true story.
‘It’s a Dybbuk box’
to the extent that there is a real dybbuk box,
the owners of which reported strange and terrifying phenomena,
some of which are incorporated into the movie.
Incidentally, the filmmakers were offered the chance to see the real thing – they declined.
Although the true story angle is interesting,
it’s certainly not unique – the Exorcism of Emily Rose a few years earlier is another ‘based on a true story’.
The film’s real USP as a drama is basing the events around a recently split up family
'Hey.'
'You're late.'
and its success as a narrative is largely determined by how well it marries the plotline of children and parents dealing with the new normal with that of the possession.
‘Why is this box so important to you?’
There’s no doubt in my mind that director Ole Bornedal, and screenwriters Juliet Snowden and Stiles White,
are trying to equate the loss of self in the possession
with that dislocation that children can experience during divorce.
‘I don’t feel like me’
It’s also a very useful plot device
because Emily’s behaviour is initially written off as a child of divorce acting out
'Give it back.'
and there are some difficult scenes which family’s going through this can identify with.
‘I hate you’
'Go to your room.'
For me, the family drama is where the film is at its best;
some of the dialogue between the parents is a little on the nose,
‘Interesting? You know ‘interesting’ is Stephanie code for you fell asleep’
but the scenes with the children have a real charm.
‘Can we get a dog’
which gives the horror something to break up – again mirroring divorce.
‘My Dad doesn’t like me anymore’
But this isn’t a family drama, it is a horror film and like all similar films,
The Possession walks in a very long shadow.
The Possession does, I think to its detriment, lean into that comparison,
'For he will deliver you from the ensnaring trap, from devastating petulance...'
sometimes Emily even looks like Regan.
‘I said, Em’s not here’
and by the time we reach the climax,
this is just the Jewish Exorcist.
And while it’s nice to see a different culture represented, that’s not enough to differentiate it.
And it’s not just the Exorcist, this is possessed girl 101.
'You ok?'
Despite some nice images, there’s nothing here you haven’t seen before and nothing you won’t see coming.
Which isn’t to say that it’s not well made.
It’s a well-crafted, well-acted, the characters are likeable,
but it relies too much on genre cliché to exploit the full potential of the divorce angle
which is really what where it ought to stand out.
So, a good watch, nothing mind-blowing.
Thanks for watching. As I said, this was recommended to us, we do read the recommendations so please keep sending them and we’ll get through as many as we can.
See you next time, stay safe.