Film4 Frightfest the 13th - Day 5

#22 - The Possession

rating: 2.5

Sam Raimi's Ghost House label doesn't exactly have a strong track record, known primarily for releasing mediocre supernatural horror films, and the latest, The Possession, isn't much of an exception. Touted by Danish director Ole Bordenal as an allegory for divorce, everything kicks off as father Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) moves house with his daughters Em (Natasha Calis) and Hannah (Madison Davenport). After purchasing an antique wooden box at a yard sale, Em appears to become obsessed with discovering what is inside, and harbours oddly protective feelings over it. Soon enough it becomes apparent to Clyde, as well as his ex-wife Stephanie (Kyra Sedgewick), however, that there's more to this box than meets the eye; it hosts something that threatens to destroy their children's innocence forever. To give the film some credit, it is slightly more intriguing than the glut of supernatural horrors filling our multiplexes every year. The use of Yiddish lore gives it a slightly fresh flavour, and the notion of a "dibbuk" being used as an antagonist paves the way for some quirky comic scenes, as Clyde finds himself consulting a Rabbi-exorcist to help cure his daughter's condition. Indeed, it smartly doesn't take itself too seriously compared to similar fare, though there are also countless bouts of unintentional humour, as Em urges her father not to touch her box, for "only can touch box". The nervous laughter from such ill-thought out phrases spread like wildfire into uproarious howling at the Frightfest screening. Despite being aware of how daft it all is, there's still plenty of generic breadcrumb-following going on here, with unimaginative effects-driven moments which might briefly amuse, but don't get the blood pumping at all. The performances, however, are generally better than the genre offers; child actors Calis and Davenport are especially convincing as children caught in the middle of both a supernatural cataclysm and a divorce. Also, the unexpected sting in the tail is an amusingly shocking full-stop on which to bring it all to a close. The Possession is funnier and better-acted than many similar films, but still feels awfully rote. The Possession is in cinemas August 31st.