In Theaters

The Possession

Movie Details

The Possession
  • Genre: Horror, Suspense/Thriller
  • Release Date: 2012-08-31 Nationwide
  • Running Time: 91 min.
  • Director: Ole Bornedal
  • Cast: Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Madison Davenport, Agam Darshi, Grant Show, Quinn Lord, Natasha Calis, Rob LaBelle, John Cassini, Nana Gbewonyo
  • Producers: Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, J.R. Young
  • Writers: Juliet Snowden, Stiles White, Leslie Gornstein
  • Distributor: Lionsgate Films
  • Official Site: The Possession Official Site

Demonic exorcism is given a perfunctory Jewish twist in The Possession, which delivers second-rate horror clichés unbefitting the imprimatur of producer Sam Raimi. Supposedly based on a true story, Ole Bornedal's film finds malevolence in a hingeless, Hebrew-inscribed box purchased by recent divorcé Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) for younger daughter Em (Natasha Calis) at a tag sale. The trauma of parent separation on young children provides excellent cover for the box's evil dybbuk spirit to get its hooks into Em, who's soon scarfing down food for two and spying fingers trying to crawl out of her throat. Bornedal's fondness for punctuating abrupt cuts to black with a solitary piano-key note is so pathological that it soon turns risible. Amid the usual scary-voiced, eyes-rolling-into-heads mayhem, the director does manage a few haunting images-- Em encircled by a swarm of giant moths; the sight of the young girl, arms outstretched while bathed in red light, robotically pleading "Daddy, you scared me" -- and an excellent Morgan exudes a shaggy, protective-papa '70s-horror vibe. Ultimately, however, the film's sole unique contribution to the genre is proving that unholy possession can be conclusively diagnosed via MRI.

Nick Schager
VOICE Daily Deals

Now Showing

Find capsule reviews, showtimes & tickets for all films in town.

Powered By VOICE Places

Now Trending

San Francisco Event Tickets

Box Office

  1. Iron Man 3, 72.5 mil, 284.9 mil
  2. The Great Gatsby, 50.1 mil, 50.1 mil
  3. Pain & Gain, 5.0 mil, 41.6 mil
  4. Peeples, 4.6 mil, 4.6 mil
  5. 42, 4.6 mil, 84.7 mil
  6. Oblivion, 4.1 mil, 81.9 mil
  7. The Croods, 3.6 mil, 173.2 mil
  8. Mud, 2.5 mil, 8.6 mil
  9. The Big Wedding, 2.5 mil, 18.3 mil
  10. Oz The Great and Powerful, 1.1 mil, 230.3 mil
Movie Title, Weekly Earnings, Total Earnings

Movie Trailers

©2013 SF Weekly, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places San Francisco / Bay Area

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city

Join
Log In