In 1973, a little film was released that popularized, if not created, a horror sub-genre dealing with demon possession. Ever since, Hollywood has worked tirelessly to recapture that magic with varying degrees of success. Recently, director Ole Bornedal and co-producer Sam Raimi teamed up to bring us the latest attempt: The Possession. The story revolves around a young girl named Emily who convinces her dad to buy her a beautiful antique box at a yard sale. Little did she know, the box contains an evil spirit. Bet you didn't see that coming, huh?
Plot
Professing to be based on true events (not buying it), the Possession's story surprised me. Not because it accomplishes anything not seen before, but because in spite of that fact, I still enjoyed it. The story itself seemed extremely honest to how people in the real world would handle such extraordinary circumstances. Never once do you have to ask yourself "Why would he do that?"
Dialogue
While I can't say that the dialogue is particularly groundbreaking, I have to give credit to writers Juliet Snowden (Knowing, Boogeyman) and Stiles White (The Sixth Sense). The dialogue manages to stay clear of any horror cliches and keep it real and organic. They also seem to understand that when you can say it without saying it, that's the best way to say it. That said, there's nothing outstanding about what IS said.
Visuals
Knowing that Sam Raimi was involved in this film, I had certain expectations for its visuals. Raimi is known for a particular style in his horror that I find over the top in most instances. He seems to show us every disgusting detail of a monster, but forgets that the scariest things are those which we can't see. Luckily, Bornedal is in the director's chair for this one and his restraint is refreshing. He opts for understated shots which make the climax all the more cinematically jarring.
Characters
The Possession also shows us that horror movies don't have to have one dimensional main characters. At its heart, the film revolves around a family struggling with divorce. The main character is Clyde, Emily's father, played expertly by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. His character is completely believable and relatable, trying to hold what's left of his family together after divorce even as it's being invaded by evil. It's Clyde's character that holds the audiences attention and grounds things when things get a little far fetched. He makes us care about Emily and invest ourselves in what happens to her.
Scares
Unfortunately, The Possession lacks the scare-factor I was hoping for. In a movie marketplace that offers many flavors of horror, including cheap jump-inducing shocks, creepy what's-behind-the-door suspense and all out Saw-style gore, this film fails to achieve any of these. Often, I found myself mentally pointing out missed opportunities that, had they been seized upon, might have given me chills. Also, thirteen year old actress Natasha Callis has some amazing acting chops that definitely shine through. Unfortunately, they were mostly squandered in favor of the creepy little girl effect.
In conclusion, The Possession is a solid supernatural film that doesn't quite earn it's horror category. With subtle visuals, solid characters and a believable plot, Ole Bornedal and company manage overcome weak scares and mediocre dialogue to turn a would-be forgettable horror outing to a film with a fair amount of heart.
Plot - 2 Points
Dialogue - 1 Point
Visuals - 2 Points
Characters - 2 Points
Scares - 1 Point
Dusty's Score - 8 out of 10
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