Possessor Review: A Brutal Possession Story

Release date: October 2, 2020
Running time: 103 minutes
Starring: Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Rossif Sutherland, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, Jennifer Jason Leigh

From the visionary mind of writer/director Brandon Cronenberg, POSSESSOR is a sci-fi thriller about elite, corporate assassin Tasya Vos (Riseborough). Using brain-implant technology, Vos takes control of other people’s bodies to execute high profile targets. As she sinks deeper into her latest assignment Vos becomes trapped inside a mind that threatens to obliterate her.

Possessor is part thriller, part sci-fi film and all dread.  The film starts with a bang that shows off what this technology can do and how it can be used.  It is a strong start that will instantly have you vested in the characters, the world, and their mission.  The whole film has a strong sense of dread as you wonder who has control of the body.  You never quite know who will do what and which entity is controlling these actions.  Even some of the more brutal actions that are taken could be the result of Vos's mission or her target's uncomfortable feelings.  This is helped along by the fantastic acting of both Riseborough and Abbott.  Riseborough completely transforms for this role, looking weary, sickly, and dangerous.  Her character is an elite assassin but this work takes a toll on her body.  Abbott has plenty to do as the target, who is and is not in control of his body.  The uncertainty is perfectly showcased when needed and helps you get into the story.  

And the story is one of intrigue and constant dread.  You never quite know what will happen and who is in control.  The entire world is unpredictable and with control shifting one way or the other, it definitely leads to some incidents you would not expect.  These unpredictable story elements often lead to some brutal scenes.  Possessor has some of the most violent, raw scenes I have seen in a movie.  They really showcase how much control Vos has lost and also how disturbing her job can be.  These scenes come alive with fantastic make up and effects that make sure that the brutality is hard to watch but also quite realistic.  And it's not just the violence that is depicted well, the whole technical aspect of this film is wonderfully done, with an animus style setup for the dive into the host character that looks like something out of the near future.

Possessor also possesses some amazing style, with the aforementioned technology and make up effects, as well as some really great lighting.  There are scenes that use colored lighting to impose a sense of dread or of near future technology that are quite effective.  And the film also has some scenes that utilize film grain to help you experience the disconnect from reality that Vos is feeling.  The film features some great audio that emphasizes the trippy experiences and also the brutality of this world.  The story is a long one but it is one that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.  Some might not like the pacing of it, but I really enjoyed the overall sense of dread and care that was taken in this world.  And some also might think that a lot of this story is gratuitous but I thought it helped highlight the extremes of this world.

4K UHD Update:

I was able to watch the recently released 4K UltraHD disc version of the film and wow, does it make the movie look beautiful.  The 4K makes everything clearer, but it is the HDR where this shines.  The movie has such intense, dynamic visuals and the added color depth really gives it a special light.  And it really makes the splashes of colors in this film look amazing.  The uncut version on the disc also adds several brutal new scenes that help to fill out some of the story.  It is a definite upgraded for those interested in this film!

Possessor will take control of you and not let go, as it pulls you into this violent, near future story with great acting, realistic effects, and a brutal story.

Watch it.

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Possessor will be in theaters and select drive ins October 2, and digitally and on demand on November 6, 2020.  For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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