Possession Review (DVD)

‘An unsung masterpiece...the film that prefigures everything that’s in Antichrist’ Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode’s opinion is but one of the critical analyses that conclude Possession to be a successful mix of intellectual horror and political allegory. The film’s classification as an eighties ‘video nasty’ led to it’s subsequent banning and for this reason it remained near impossible to obtain a copy anywhere. Despite this Possession achieved BAFTA and Palme d’Or nominations; Isabelle Adjani’s performance earned her Best Actress awards at Cannes and the Césars. Such successes led me to anticipate an overlooked gem, but instead the most shocking thing about this controversial film was its absurd delivery.

Possession is the story of Anna (Isabelle Adjani), who has started having an affair following the breakdown of her marriage. Her husband Mark (Sam Neill) returns from a seemingly work-related trip and on discovering her secret sets to prise information from Anna’s friend who has been looking after the couple’s son. Anna disappears, and Mark employs a detective to reveal exactly whom (or what!) she has been conducting her affair with.

This plot simplification does not depict the multitude of layers the film attempts to work on. Throw in surreal ‘Alien’-esque special effects, awkward camera angles and repeated shots of the Berlin Wall set within a generally grey and desolate landscape and you’ll start to get the picture. The couple’s insane sparring matches go so far as to involve an electric knife and meat grinder, undoubtedly influencing the similarly tense intermarital violence seen in Antichrist. Despite Possession’s age and budget these gruesome scenes are definitely not for the faint hearted.

Unfortunately visual intensity and atmosphere was often compromised by the script and its delivery. The film felt incredibly difficult to watch due to the acting- it was so bad that the performances seemed tongue-in-cheek and almost camp, yet the script remained bludgeoningly serious. Adjani’s theatrical portrayal of Anna made the hysterical character difficult to empathise with and it’s a wonder that her offering was so highly revered.

Admirably, themes depicted in Possession have proved strong enough to inspire and influence the current art-horror genre, and for this, coupled with it’s divided reception and albeit bizarre acting, I recommend seeing it even if just for the sheer spectacle.

Bonus features include The Other Side Of The Wall (The Making Of Possession) & an interview with director Andrzej Zulawski.

Published on www.thefilmpilgrim.com