Possessor (2020) Movie Review
Written by: ML
Edited by: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Brandon Cronenberg
Producers: Fraser Ash, Niv Fichman, Kevin Krikst, Andrew Starke
Writers: Brandon Cronenberg
Date Released: October 2, 2020
Cast:
Andrea Riseborough as Tasya Vos
Christopher Abbott as Colin Tate
Rossif Sutherland as Michael Vos
Tuppence Middleton as Ava Parse
Sean Bean as John Parse
Jennifer Jason Leigh as Girder
Kaniehtiio Horn as Reeta
Raoul Bhaneja as Eddie
Gage Graham-Arbuthnot as Ira Vos
Gabrielle Graham as Holly Bergman
Rating = 3/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
The story is about a secret organization that uses high-tech machinery for assassination. They implant the consciousness of the assassin into a stranger that will perform the actual killing. In this way, the assassin and the organization is safe and the poor stranger will be tagged as the killer. With their biggest mission to kill a corporation owner and his daughter, the assassin struggles to take control of the stranger’s mind. The mission becomes a horrific killing spree when the possessor loses control.
Gore Factor
The opening scene is gory enough to warn the viewers of what is to come from a Cronenberg movie. The assassination scenes are bloody and full of close-ups of the violence. One of the memorable brutal scenes include Sean Bean’s murder scene. The visually morbid gun shots and stabbing in the movie will make viewers squirm and jump in their seats. Throughout the duration of the film, there are montages and psychedelic visuals that depict what’s happening with the minds of the possessor and the possessed. This includes the scene of the pulse analysis. The possessed squeezes the head of the possessor and wears her face as a mask. But the most anxiety-inducing are the suicide attempt scenes.
The Grave Review
Despite being sci-fi, this movie is also considered horror because it shows the negative effects of abusing and infusing technology with human abilities. Plus, the visual and special effects are very creepy.
In terms of acting, though Andrea Riseborough was lying down most of the time, Christopher Abbott played the part well. There were two scenes of the tech calibration in the movie where the host changes emotions in split seconds after tuning their brain. It was superb acting from the actors.
The best part of this movie is the way it tackled several themes such as the misuse of technology, mental capacity, empathy, and violence. It’s not just about science fiction or brutal horror. There is also the possibility of an existing dimension where separate minds can communicate and see each other.
On the other hand, the only problem was the lack of back story about the secret organization or about the boss. Even the assassin’s reason for accepting the very high-tech job was not revealed or how it had negatively affected her relationship with her family. The movie just revolved around the assassinations and complications due to loss of control. Also, since Sean Bean’s character was still alive, it would’ve been a failed mission which they did not explain as well. The reason for the failed suicide attempts was also not thoroughly explained.
But despite those questions, the ending was thought-provoking in the sense that the assassin finally became emotionless after her family was killed from her loss of control. Nothing can affect her mission from then on.
Overall, this movie is recommended for audiences who like a mix of gore and science fiction.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Possessor (2020) three graves out of five graves.
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