A young girl buys an antique box at a yard sale, unaware that inside the collectible lives a malicious ancient spirit. The girl's father teams with his ex-wife to find a way to end the curse upon t...
The Possession interestingly presents divorce before spouting clichéd Jewish jargon. It’s always a surprise when you watch another exorcism-based horror that turns out to be, well, not terrible. Especially when low-budget mainstream features are pumped out every week, exorcising more profanity-fuelled demons than a Vatican City course on said practice. Although the holy Pope himself may slap you for approaching him regarding this dybbuk. Why? It’s Jewish, ennit. Different religions and stuff. Regardless of the technicalities, it’s still the same procedure, and that’s where this horror falters. A young girl purchases an ancient, ominous and varnished box that just happens to host a Jewish demon. She opens the box and a swarm of demonic Jewish moths fly into her esophagus and, you guessed it, possesses her.
The only reason, the sole fundamental foundation, why this film is tolerable is due to the perfect casting. Morgan and Sedgwick representing the polar opposite moralities within a divorce fantastically, depicting how the raucous debris can affect family life. Fatherhood, independence and child abuse are various themes that Bornedal intrinsically focuses on beyond the horror, and the natural chemistry from its leads assist in pushing this further. Not to mention Calis is one creepy girl when she wants to be! Bornedal creates an adequate amount of atmosphere through jarring yet effective editing. Adiao frequently cuts a scene before it ends, to black, only for the monotonous piano-based score to envelope you in it’s ominous technicalities. It works, even if me describing it doesn’t.
Then the parents find out what the hell is happening to their daughter, and automatically proceed by visiting Jewish central and finding the local exorcism crew. Introducing your typical, unimaginative and incredibly boring third act. Oh yes! Wondering when the mainstream tropes were going to take precedent? Now’s the time. We’re talking random religious dialogue taunting the moth demons. Profanity from the possessed. “Take me instead!!”. Yeah. Just watch ‘The Exorcist’, y’know? It’s a shame. Bornedal completely diminishes the slow-paced, methodically layered themes that preceded the typical demon ejection act. Oh, and the film isn’t particularly terrifying. Maybe if I was being generously susceptible, there were a few scenes that were well executed in producing chills. The repetitious “daddy, you’re scaring me!” being a suitable example. Teeth falling out from a strong breeze? Not so much.
When The Possession isn’t possessing the daughter, it’s possessively effective through underdeveloped yet intriguing metaphors. Unfortunately the mundane third act attracts those demonic moths to the hellish flames of Satan’s breath, by being ludicrously unimaginative. Still, could’ve been far more streamlined and laborious, therefore producing a surprisingly “Okay!” horror. Just y’know, don’t let you daughter purchase an ancient unknown box...
