by Sebastian Kluth
Par kluseba
Possessor is a Canadian science-fiction thriller directed by Brandon Cronenberg and starring actresses and actors such as Jennifer Jason Leigh and Christopher Abbott. Even though the film is a slow burn, it includes quite a few graphic scenes and also features some pornographic elements. This is certainly not a movie for children or teenagers or the whole family.
The story is quite intriguing and includes several twists and turns that end up being somewhat difficult to follow towards the conclusion. The film presents a secretive organization that uses brain-implant technology to temporarily inhabit bodies of other people in order to commit unsolvable crimes. Tasya Vos is shown possessing the body of a hostess who suddenly grabs a knife and murders a businessman. In order to pull out of the foreign body, Tasya Vos is supposed to make the hostess commit suicide but she hesitates and gets shot by the police instead. The demanding job has taken its toll on Tasya Vos who asks for some time off to rekindle with her estranged husband and son who know nothing of her job. She realizes that she has become hesitant, isolated and depressive but accepts the next job nevertheless. Tasya Vos takes control of a young man who dates the daughter of an ambitious businessman. She is supposed to murder the daughter and her father and make the boyfriend commit suicide. The job however becomes more difficult than anticipated when Tasya Vos discovers details about her host that she wasn't briefed about beforehand. Things quickly spiral out of control and take an unexpected personal turn.
This ambitious movie convinces on numerous levels. The story is certainly intriguing and keeps you guessing how things might unfold until the very last scene. The film has a gloomy, mystyerious and numbing atmosphere from start to finish. Especially the cold sound effects and efficient lighting techniques enhance the film's dystopian vibes. The acting performances are stellar and especially Andrea Riseborough convinces as conflicted lead character whose life is spinning out of control. Despite its slow pace, the movie grabs the viewer's attention with sudden violent outbursts and pornographic elements that might however feel unnecessarily exaggerated at some points.
The film's biggest downside is its own ambition. The final thirty minutes introduce a few too many twists and turns that can be understood when analyzed in hindsight but that harm the film's flow. The movie's eventful resolution doesn't blend in with the much calmer exposition, rising action, climax and even falling action. The director should have taken more time to properly tell the ending of the story instead of rushing to the conclusion.
Overall, Possessor is a very atmospheric dystopian science-fiction film with an interesting story, intriguing characters and vivid outbursts of violence and some surreal pornographic elements. The movie isn't always easy to digest due to its overall slow pace contrasted by a rushed finale but there are enough creative ideas in here for the film to deserve more attention and acclaim. If you are a genre fan and like the works of Brandon's famous father David Cronenberg, then you should rent or stream this movie.
Thème Magazine © - Hébergé par Eklablog