Movie Review – Possessor (2020)

Possessor, 2020.

Directed by Brandon Cronenberg.
Starring Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Bean, Gabrielle Graham, Matthew Garlick, and Tuppence Middleton.

POSSESSOR_AMAZON_FILM_1200x1600-600x800

SYNOPSIS:

An murderer who makes use of mind implant expertise to get her character contained in the physique of others finds her choice for being in a unique physique is starting to take over her personal existence.

Possessor-1-600x338

The apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree, as they are saying, and that’s one thing that you’re in all probability going to listen to quite a bit about Brandon Cronenberg, whose second function movie Possessor lastly arrives throughout the tail-end of a wierd 12 months whose harsh narrative may have been written by both of the filmmakers bearing that surname.

Cronenberg’s debut function Antiviral was very a lot a continuation of the bizarre sci-fi physique horror that his father David made his title with in the1970s and ‘80s however there was one thing lacking. Whether or not it was a powerful sufficient identification or voice of its personal, or whether or not it was only a bit too odd that it couldn’t fairly join, Antiviral confirmed promise however didn’t fairly have sufficient to it to make it stand out, aside from counting on who its director was. Fortunately, Possessor makes big leaps ahead to make it possible for it sticks with you slightly extra and that there’s extra about it to debate aside from who was behind the digital camera.

Christopher-Abbott-in-Possessor-Signature-Entertainment-27-Nov-2020-600x337

The story is suitably weird as we’re launched to Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough – Mandy), an murderer who is distributed by her organisation to get rid of targets chosen by excessive paying shoppers. Nevertheless, Vos is not any atypical murderer because the strategies used includes Vos’s consciousness being positioned inside one other individual utilizing cutting-edge mind implants, taking on the physique and ultimately killing the goal and being introduced again to her personal physique simply earlier than her host physique kills itself; a sort-of physique swapping assassination however the killer’s bodily physique by no means leaves the premises of the organisation.

Sadly for Vos she is changing into too absorbed within the non-physical world she inhabits and is slightly disillusioned with the actual world and her place inside it, a lot in order that she has to rehearse greet her younger son when she goes to go to him and her estranged husband. When her newest task places her within the physique of Colin Tate (Christopher Abbott – It Comes at Night time) she discovers that his will to remain in command of his physique after the hit is completed will result in a battle of personalities the place no person wins.

Andrea-Riseborough-in-Possessor-Signature-Entertainment-27-Nov-2020-2-600x399

Not as chilly or medical as it might have been had Cronenberg Senior made it, Possessor clearly comes from the identical gene pool that gave us Scanners, Useless Ringers and The Brood, such is the physique and character morphing concepts that Cronenberg and his crew have made flesh on the display. It is usually fairly telling that David Cronenberg was as soon as hooked up to direct Complete Recall earlier than it was given to Paul Verhoeven , and in the event you ever puzzled what a dual-personality sci-fi with horror parts directed by Cronenberg could be like then Possessor is as shut as you might be more likely to get because it additionally shares a little bit of its DNA with that story, albeit being very tonally totally different.

Andrea Riseborough and Christopher Abbott are the standouts right here, the previous persevering with to impress together with her intense display presence, and Sean Bean additionally makes a memorable look, staying true to kind and profiting from one of many movies’ most brutal and unsettling scenes. In true Cronenberg type Possessor by no means provides you any clear solutions for what’s going on, demanding that you simply watch and all can be revealed by the top – which it’s – however the journey getting there’s a way more satisfying viewing expertise than it was with Antiviral, with Brandon Cronenberg’s filmmaking voice much more assured as he mixes arthouse stylings with graphic violence in a way more accessible manner than many current motion pictures which have tried to mix the 2. Credit score additionally to particular results wizard Dan Martin for his splendidly explosive blood squibs that make the quite a few shootings all of the extra nasty to look at.

Possessor-2-600x338

In a 12 months that has given us dozens of moody, slow-burning, character-driven items Possessor comes as one thing of a welcome aid, giving us a excessive idea story crafted into an engrossing and extremely polished instance of style cinema that gained’t attraction to everybody – i.e. mainstream audiences – however ought to acquire sufficient of a following to get it talked about in any ‘Finish of 12 months’ lists that matter. If nothing else, Possessor reveals that though Brandon Cronenberg has clearly inherited loads of his father’s abilities, his personal tackle the type is starting to shine by means of and makes no matter is coming subsequent a really thrilling prospect certainly if this film is something to go by.

Flickering Fantasy Ranking – Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Film: ★ ★ ★ ★

Chris Ward

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries

 

Supply through www.flickeringmyth.com

Leave a Reply