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

Published

4 years ago

September 23, 2020

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.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

14 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

15 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

17 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.