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Review: Brandon Cronenberg’s ‘Possessor’ is Heady, Gory, Must See Sci-Fi

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Brandon Cronenberg — son of the legendary David Cronenberg — is a talented chip off the old block. Though Possessor is only his second feature, Cronenberg has created a complex and fascinating film that will dig its way into your brain and stay there, percolating, long after you’ve seen it. It’s cruel, clever, and compelling, and it’s possibly the best film of the year. 

In Possessor, Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough, Mandy) is the top agent at a shadowy organization that uses advanced medical technology to implant her consciousness into the body of a carefully selected host. She uses these unwilling actors to commit brutally violent assassinations at the direction of the company, pulling her out before the host is forced to self-terminate. It’s the perfect crime — all eyes are on the host, whose death effectively ties up any loose ends. But the more missions Vos embarks on — taking residence inside someone else, adopting their personality and mannerisms through meticulous observation — the more she loses herself. When Vos takes over the body of Colin Tate (Christopher Abbott, It Comes At Night), she finds herself losing control to his consciousness, embroiling them in a battle of wills that threatens to destroy them both. 

Riseborough and Abbott are absolutely flawless. Vos is balancing her own confused identity with the weight of the murders she’s committed; she’s alienated from her family and any sense of normalcy, and her focus on her job becomes all-encompassing. Riseborough is phenomenal as Vos stoically struggles to connect. Though she doesn’t have as much screen time, her presence is carried throughout. You can feel her through each scene, hovering just in the back of your mind. 

Abbott has both Tate and Vos behind the wheel, shifting through different mental states with razor-sharp precision. One “calibration” scene turns the literal emotional dial from one extreme to the next, and Abbott absolutely nails the transitions. He flexes his well-honed acting muscles, pulling pathos through the character’s complex confusion and torment. Possessor’s performances are often subdued (until they very much aren’t), but every motion — every micro-expression — is nuanced perfection.

Karim Hussain’s (Random Acts of Violence, We Are Still Here) cinematography is nothing short of brilliant, with a meticulous balance of lighting, color, camera movement and placement. He dials scenes down and blows them up in equal measure, pulling you through a moody ebb and flow. Possessor has a unique and distinct texture — you can feel this film.`

Every design element of Possessor works in well-planned harmony, offering strong support to the well-crafted story. Visual effects melt and bleed into the action. The overall effect is impressively cohesive. Cronenberg has crafted a brave new world with dystopian leanings and unexplored depth that goes beyond the events we see on screen. 

Possessor is a rather heady film, dealing with themes of moral corruption, body dysmorphia, and surveillance capitalism with punches of abstract imagery and ruthless violence. And it is ruthless — shot in close-up, every seamless stabbing and brutal beating is inescapable. Not for the faint of heart, Possessor is heavy, bold, unflinching sci-fi horror at its best. 

I would love to say more, but Possessor demands to be seen. If you’re a fan of his father’s work, rest assured that Cronenberg follows in his footsteps when it comes to body horror and misused technology. He travels down that familiar road, but the whole trip is dramatically different, and with a final destination unlike anything you’ve seen before.

 

Possessor is set for release on October 2, 2020. You can check out the trailer here.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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