Movie Review: ‘Possession’

Review by James Lindorf

When Andrzej Żuławski’s “Possession” had its world premiere at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, it was instantly polarizing. Isabelle Adjani would win the festival’s Best Actress award because of her work here and in James Ivory’s “Quartet.” However, the film would go on to be added to the dreaded Video Nasty list. These were a collection of movies that were banned in the United Kingdom due to presumed harmful content. Some films like “Possession” were even sued to try and prevent their release. It took two years from its premiere for the movie to make its way across the pond and premiere in American theaters. However, in order to obtain a release here, it had to be heavily edited, removing approximately a third of its runtime. The resulting reviews and box office returns were dismal. In the years since the premiere, due in part to the controversy and the eventual end of the Video Nasty list, “Possession” has reached cult classic status. Now 40 years later, “Possession” has been restored to its entire 124-minute runtime and upgraded to beautiful 4k. “Possession” opened Theatrically and Digitally Exclusively at Metrograph on October 1st before moving to theaters nationwide on the 15th and will be available through at least the end of the month.

After another successful mission, Mark (Sam Neill), a professional spy, is ready to retire and return to his West Berlin home. Hoping to reconnect with his wife Anna (Isabelle Adjani) and young son Bob, Mark is stunned to find a detached Anna who insists on a divorce. Anna’s unusual behavior continues to spiral out of control, alarming Mark and everyone around her. Her reasons for demanding a divorce continue to evolve until Mark discovers a truth far more sinister than his wildest suspicions. Secret affairs, private investigators, domestic violence, and an otherworldly creature collide in Żuławski’s delirious look at a crumbling marriage where one half isn’t ready to call it quits.

The beginning of a decade has a lot more in common with the previous decade than with its latter years. Creating a movie is often an extended process with someone having an idea, that person or someone else writing a script, then filling dozens or hundreds of roles to bring the concept to life. So It could come as no surprise that a film released in 1981 has a distinct 70’s vibe in its music, shot selection, and acting style. Looking at these three categories and comparing them to modern productions, the most significant difference is the acting. Over time we have grown to appreciate subtle performances, some going so far as to look down on the boisterous scene-stealing performances. In “Possession,” Adjani and Sam Neill begin their performances at 11 and only go up from there. Though the delivery may be over the top, these are demanding roles both emotionally and physically. Adjani has the added difficulty of playing two roles. She is, of course, Anna, but she also plays Helen, Bob’s teacher and a potential love interest for Mark. Whether you enjoy the performances or not, you cannot help but admire the dedication of everyone involved. Speaking of dedication, a stuntman for Sam Neill deserved a raise or at least a statue for his commitment to a stunt involving a motorcycle accident.

“Possession” really fires on all cylinders, including a pulsing unsettling score from composer Andrzej Korzyński. Then there is cinematographer Bruno Nuytten’s work, a gritty marriage of greys and dingy colors that have never looked better than they do in 4k. This review couldn’t end without mentioning the contributions of special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi who created the absolutely disgusting creature. Rambaldi is best known for creating a creature for the small 1982 film, “E.T.” From this era of filmmaking, “Possession” is at the peak of its genre with movies like “Suspiria” and “Videodrome.” The story isn’t as tightly plotted as possible, which was most likely intentional to help put the audience on edge like its characters. And yes, the acting can be a lot to handle, especially if you don’t have much experience with 40-year-old movies. With so many strong elements in its favor, “Possession” earns a 4 out of 5.

Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Original Language: English
Director: Andrzej Żuławski
Producer: Marie-Laure Reyre
Writer: Frederic Tuten, Andrzej Żuławski
Runtime: 2h 7m