Possession

Initially went into this having heard how Lily-Rose Depp’s intensely choreographed performance for Nosferatu (2024) was inspired by the physicality Isabelle Adjani takes on here. Additionally I assumed there would be shades of satanic themes only because this now is my 666th review. The film doesn’t quite go there, instead pushing a much broader scope, but at least brushes with the idea of God-defying powers, so I’m counting it. Enough prefacing… Wow, and I mean, WOW. Always a sucker for an expertly crafted slow burn. Much to my delight, surprise, and horror though this story does not burn out, it builds like a motherfucker. Love to see it when people are running around to reoccurring places doing frantic things; need more movies with that. In so many instances even the camera alone starts acting as this harrowing spiritual force looming around the couple at nearly every moment discomfort or peril arises. Even at the moments of engaged intimate close-ups where there should be an air of calm, there’s this biting underlying rage building up between each of them. In what seems to be a staggering toe to toe match of acting I cannot go without saying how insanely both Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill just body the hell out of these roles. The anguish and panic they portray for their own reasons in the story is undoubtedly difficult to watch, but really in the best way possible. The kind of ignorant, almost tyrannical persistence Mark has at obsessing over his wife – who is at first presented as merely detached and unhappy – makes him fall into this paralyzing fear like he’s losing some kind of prized possession. Pun wholly intended. As the film progresses and begins to unravel, Anna’s position in the story is more prominently revealed which leaves only more and more uneased to be laid on. The allegory that this reflects the internal turmoil felt from a divorce or trauma from domestic violence is evident here and legitimately compelling and along with an underlying surrealistic terror, it only elevated those themes to a whole new paranoia. I love the direction the story decided to take, but I will say, nothing can prepare you for those last 10 minutes. As outstandingly absurd as it gets, I think I was down for it all the way. Like sure, explosion meme sound effects all the way up to the credits, count me in. But anyway, there’s just so many slight details in the performances, setting, and editing that are really going to make this memorable at the very least, but I won’t drone on about them all here. Those creature practical effects – while maybe not anything to pine over – really do the job in the shock factor dept. Awooga amirite?! Helen’s green beady eyes and Heinrich’s pleading but also suave dancing will probably plague my nightmares for nights following. Also, for a while I haven’t been as interested in writing reviews like this and not totally sure why, but I think I’ll try to get back to this more. Thanks for reading if you got this far. “Because you say “I” for me.”