Release Date: August 31, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (I for sure thought it would be R.)
Director: Ole Bornedal
Stars: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Natasha Callis, Kyra Sedgwick
Our Rating: A-
This week’s new movie is one I rather enjoyed. The Possession, Directed by Ole Bornedal and produced by Nicole Brown and Joseph Drake.
This film, which is based on a true story, follows a man by the name of Clyde Brenek (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who is a high school basketball coach and fresh out of a divorce. He shares joint custody of his Kids, Hannah (Madison Davenport) and Emily (Natasha Callis), with his wife Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick). After moving into a new house, his daughters convince him to go to a yard sale, where Clyde unknowingly buys a Jewish Dybbuk box containing the demon Abyzou (Pronounced Ah-Bee-Zoo, voice by Cameron Sprague). Abyzou preys upon Emily, the youngest and most innocent of the two daughters, but is ultimately resealed into the box.
One of the more specific examples of good acting within this film is Kyra Sedgwick’s portrayal of the “worried mother” stereotype, crying in frustration when Clyde is falsely accused of hitting their daughter and sitting absolutely dumbstruck and shocked at Em’s bedside after an MRI proved she was possessed.
There are many examples within the film of symbolism. Whether in scenery, clothing, or objects, you can always rely on these subtle symbols given by the director. One such form of symbolism is Emily Brenek’s choice in fashion. Towards the beginning of her encounter, she starts to wear all white each time something happens to her, but her color palette becomes increasingly grayer until it’s practically black, symbolizing her soul being tainted by the evil inside her.
To finish it off, The Possession was a terror-inducing machine, capable of making even the toughest of people hold their armrests in white-knuckle grips. I, personally, very much liked this movie, excluding it’s lacking length. Although I honestly do not suggest showing this to younger children. See you all next week!
