Getting a 2025 4K reissue in the UK, Andrzej Zulawski’s polarising and then-controversial (in 1981, I mean) psychological horror remains a divisive experience, particularly for anyone expecting a straightforward genre experience.
First gaining prominence in the UK in the pre-regulation years under the old label VTC (which also had the likes of FORT APACHE – THE BRONX, Paul Newman’s excellent cop drama, in its library, the film was also part of the ‘nasties era’. Seen today with more enlightening eyes, there is a more deeper artistic context to be gleaned from viewing it in modern terms.
POSSESSION stars Sam Neill in an early film role (made around the same time as his bow as Damien Thorn in the final OMEN film, THE FINAL CONFLICT) as Mark, a spy who has returned home from assignment to deal with the imminent divorce request of his wife Anna (Isabelle Adjani, THE DRIVER) who openly admits to him that she is having an affair, but doesn’t admit to who the other person is. As parents to a young son, this bolt out of the blue is something that isn’t really trying to help alleviate and solve what is clearly a lot of tension between the two of them, compounded by a phone call from Anna’s love, Heinrich (Heinz Bennent) who tries to play mind games with an already-incensed Mark.
Trying to gain more enlightenment, Mark hires a private detective, who soon discovers that Anna’s true love is something altogether more bizarre….
Still a very strange but no less watchable experience, heightened by two very emotional performances, particularly from Adjani who has been regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses in cinema history, but Neill is also good in a film which is a far cry from his later roles in the likes of THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER and the JURASSIC PARK films he bowed in. He does look similar in image to Damien but the film is a contrast and will probably remain one of the most left-field films of his career.
One for genre addicts and certainly for the horror fans amongst you, this is certainly one that should be on your rmust-watch list. Whether or not you remain indifferent to it after a first view remains to be seen, but do check it out.