Dir. Ole Bornedal | Now Streaming On: Hulu | Rating: 4/5

I’m not really a movie rewatcher, but The Possession is one I’ve found myself watching a handful of times and regularly recommending to horror newbies. One of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s stronger horror performances, this gem spins the typical Christian demonic possession story to capture the mythos of Judaism. ⁠
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I’m a sucker for religious horror and its connections to the power of belief. Regardless of what we believe in, we as conscious beings can often “believe” things into existence. And in the case of most possession films, we can also believe them out of existence. There is this long standing debate as to whether or not exorcisms, regardless of the faith they are based in, are more of a psychological intervention than a spiritual one. The Possession captures the essence of this psychological dilemma through the character of Clyde, who doesn’t believe in anything but his love for his daughters. ⁠
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Similar to the idea of demons in Catholicism, the talk of dybbuks in Judaism is not a glamorous one. For many, dybbuk boxes are truly powerful objects that harness the unearthly power of a detached spirit, and should it be released it will wreak havoc. The screenplay of this film is actually based on a true story. Much like its predecessor The Exorcist, The Possession’s set was preyed on by superstition and strange happenings – like lights exploding and props being burned without apparent cause. ⁠
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The Possession does hit the pitfalls of the subgenre that some may find trite, but manages to hold its own in an oversaturated topic. I’d especially recommend this to folks just getting into watch horror and first time watch parties. ⁠
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Know Before You Watch: Features bugs.⁠