Possession (1981)
AKA: The Night the Screaming Stopped
Directed by: Andrzej Zulawski
Starring: Isabelle Adjani (Anna/Helen), Sam Neill (Mark), Heinz Bennent (Heinrich), Margit Carstensen (Margit), Johanna Hofer (Heinrich’s mother)
Country: Germany
Language: English, (English Subtitles)
Runtime: 02:03:36
Genres: Bizarre, Body Modification, Self-Harm, Gruesome, Infidelity, Revenge, Family, Violence against Women
Plot – Spoilers:
Mark has just returned from either a mission, or meeting a mysterious being. Anyway, his wife Anna wants to leave him – there’s another weird man in her life apart from a strange creature she’s got hidden away. All the characters are well nutty, as is the plotline. Towards the end, one of the men who hired Mark shows off his pink socks, which the being Mark initially met with, supposedly wore. Not sure this little nugget of a clue helps understand the film any better. Anna also wears the same dress throughout, except during a ballet class. Is she or Mark totally mental, and the whole thing an extended fantasy for one of them. Not sure I cared enough to know.
Possession will probably appeal to you if you enjoy watching a movie that periodically makes you shake your head and mumble, FUCK IS GOING ON. Or if you just enjoy watching the beautiful Isabelle Adjani. There are some fascinating closeups of her, especially while being assaulted by Sam Neill. There’s also an impressive looking beast fucking her, if that’s of passing interest to you.
I’m thinking the subway scene with her bleeding milk and blood was part of the stigmata from the possession. As to what exactly possessed her, I have no clue except that it tied in with that thing in the bed that morphed into her hubby at the end. It would also explain much of her bizarre behavior towards him and the murders she committed. I still don’t get why the son killed himself in the tub, but it gave off a sort of Blair Witch vibe when the cameraman was facing the corner wall.
Oh. huh? I liked it though. I’m just confused.
Does anyone have a link to this film in specifically Italian? I know that dubbing exists because I’ve heard the argument scene dubbed.
loved this movie sm and that sex scene was so good :3
Wait… what?
Sam Neill looks crazy in this, he’s completely different from Jurassic Park and Isabelle Adjan she was kinda hot with perky tits when she was young i wanted to fuck her
Very interesting psychological sexual ‘horror’. Starts a bit slow, but it is worth waiting for the big finale.
this is not a horror film you fucking absolute degenerate retards
Truly the greatest horror film ever made.
i’m sorry but this was the most painfully boring movie i’ve ever seen, also, wtf was the sex scene with the alien (or something, god for anna???), that was…ummm, interesting ????
wtf ☠️☠️
was expecting this to just me another femcel flick (which it was for the first half, and i would have been content with) but it just kept going and holy shit i’m so glad it did. one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-everything films, while also keeping the pacing well. leaves you with the same feeling a cronenberg would, great performances all around 10/10 thanks eum
feel like i need a video essay after this, i fucked with it heavy tho
Enjoyed this more than The Exorcist, to say the least.
Well that was kinda goofy. I watched it because of the much commented on monster sex scene, and the date movie was made. Monster sex did not disappoint.
This is ome of the weirdest movies and horror kovies i’ve seen and of the very few horror movies to actually have scared me
It is the kind of movie i didnt get anything about and in the meantime i was shocked by it and loved it as well
Same happened for eraserhead and maybe even tersuo tho they werent horrifying
Isabelle adjani’s performance is marvelous
Don’t waste two hours of your time watching this.
Adjani is demented and gorgeous – whats not to like?
this has lynchian vibes
u all fucking gay mmh ??? mmh???
I came to watch this for the monster sex scene (my only complaint is that scene wasn’t long enough) only to get to the end and realize it’s like the British version of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. At least that’s my take on it.
can’t tell whether the acting was over the top (especially the subway scene) or just right for this film.. Fascinating film nonetheless!
Edit: Adjani won the Best Actress Award for her performance at the 34th Cannes Film Festival, so apparently they liked her acting performance…
On You Tube they have this at 2hrs 20. Are we missing something?
Definitely my favourite film, glad to see its aa popular as ever. DIABEL is pretty great too if POSSESSION was to your taste. Really love the selection on here, so many of my favourites: INLAND EMPIRE, ARREBATO, IN A GLASS CAGE, GUMMO, TETSUO…etc.
@Tim Hartmann
Thanks a TON for the link to On the Silver Globe? I kept hitting paywalls requiring membership on various rare film and European/Russian sites when I was initially trying to find it, n I’m not going to pay some site thats violating copyright to begin with, lol.
Sry it took me a while to see ur link, I didn’t check the comments here for this film in a while due to not caring since I was ostracized for hating Possession;) Watched On the Silver Globe this morning and found it very unique and overall enjoyable. I thought it was brave how the director released it incomplete yet filled in the gaps w narration as well. And I definitely agree in regards to the ott acting from the second ‘savior’ astronaut, and the initial ‘mother’ astronaut as well. Reminds me of another film…? Thanks again tho, definitely was worth the watch due to it being very unique, to say the least. The few other films they have posted there I have all seen, check em out if u haven’t bc they’re all powerhouses in regards to film. Peace;)
ADMINS: THANKS for not editing out his link too, I know how u generally dislike them and do that w posted links, but am thankful u let that one slide. Much appreciated!!
the acting isn’t mediocre, it is iconic. if you think otherwise, then why are you here. Anna’s actor was pure brilliance.
One of my Top 10. Not everyone gets it and it was intended that way. For those who dig the film it’s a masterpiece examination of the evolving and devolving relationships between Men & Women. For anyone who’s never tripped on that it’s hysterical satire. To each their own. Great upload either way.
it isn’t a horror film at all. it’s a mediocre satire with effed up themes.
Thanks admins! Top marks for all the new films as of late:) Zero marks for this film itself tho:/ A dream like film that had the feel of a film made by a director who was tripping balls and trying (poorly) to imitate other arthouse dramas (for example those of the great Bergman, Tarkovsky, etc) that was hampered by and failed MISERABLY due to it’s completely ludicrous, absurd, bipolar acting. The subway scene had me laughing it was that bad. Asinine. Literally anybody could’ve done acting like hers in the subway. Cringeworthy is putting it mildly. Nobody in this film acted like normal people in the least, except for the little kid. And while I realize/understand this was the directors attempt at relating his feelings of ‘exile’ due to censorship, as well as apparently him drawing inspiration from Tolstoy’s epic Anna Karenina (whatever tf that means, I couldn’t see it) etc, EVERYTHING about the characters, and therefore the movie, r completely unrelatable to me, as well as due to the over the top acting. I feel like anyone else who’s had any kind of formal acting training/experience would prbly agree as well A pity, because it could’ve been a great film otherwise. Literally some of the worst acting I’ve EVER seen amongst the thousands of films I’ve viewed. What could’ve easily been a 7 or 8 in my book, poof, gone. I’ll give it a 3/10, for it’s unique plot at least. Creature was badass btw. Will prbly never watch… Read more »
The subway scene in this film is required viewing for all horror fans, on the same level as the shower scene in Pyscho.
FUCK YESSSS! Greatest horror film of all time!