Blu-ray Review: POSSESSION (1981)

 

POSSESSION

Directed by:  Andrzej Julawski

Distributed by:  Second Sight Films

 Today's review is another film I have always heard about, and have always wanted to watch, but just never have for some reason.   I even own in on DVD, but have yet to watch it.   I was glad when the new Second Sight Films Blu-ray arrived for review, as I would have the chance to watch it finally.   Here is the basic plot of the film from the Second Sight Film's website:

A woman starts exhibiting increasingly disturbing behaviour after asking her husband for a divorce. Suspicions of infidelity soon give way to something far more sinister.

  Now that plot synopsis is pretty basic, but this movie is anything but that.  It is a very intriguing film with lots of layers, and to be honest, quite confusing at some times.   POSSESSION is hard to describe in terms of genre.  While it is considered a horror film, the subgenre is almost impossible to define.   It's as much of a drama film as it is horror, it's also a suspense film, but then there is also an element of body horror that was very surprising.  Overall the film just gives off a sense of dread, and uneasiness.  

  The acting in this film is top notch, with a young Sam Neill giving one of the best acting performances of his career.   Isabella Adjani won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role as Anna in this film, and that was very much deserved.  Adjani gave one of the most emotional performances I have ever seen put on film.  In fact, I am surprised this performance is not talked about more often. 

  The effects in this film are very good, and of course, all practical.  I was surprised by the amount of blood and gore in this film, as on the surface it doesn't seem like that type of film.  As I mentioned before, though, this film doesn't fit in one category.  It's a good mixture of multiple subgenres and makes for a very entertaining and thought provoking film. 

 If you haven't seen this one, I highly recommend it.  If you have seen it or even own it on DVD, I highly recommend you check out this new Blu-ray release.  It's presented with a new 4K restoration and looks amazing.  

POSSESSION is available now on Blu-ray and contains the following Special Features:

• A new Producer approved 4K restoration

• 2- Disc Edition
  

• Includes the North American Re-edit: newly restored from an archive print

• New Audio Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Alison Taylor 

• Audio Commentary by Director Andrzej Żuławski moderated by Daniel Bird

• Audio Commentary by Frederic Tuten moderated by Daniel Bird

• New Audio Commentary by Daniel Bird and Manuela Lazic (The North American Re-edit)

• The Horror of Normality: Guillermo del Toro on Possession

• The Shadow We Carry: Kat Ellinger on Possession

• Repossessed: The Film’s UK and US reception

• Andrzej Żuławski: Director: archive documentary

• A Divided City:  The Berlin locations

• The Sounds of Possession: an interview with Composer Andrzej Korzynski

• Our Friend in the West: an interview with Producer Christian Ferry

• Basha: a featurette on poster artist Barbara ‘Basha’ Baranowska

• The Other Side of The Wall: The Making of Possession

• Archive interview with Andrzej Żuławski

• Deleted Scenes

• Theatrical Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray