Possession is a reminder of why I love David Cronenberg, and hate almost all art films. This begins as a story about a couple separating, but it becomes obvious quickly that it's not interested in conveying a clear message. I don't even view this as a film, it's a collection of scenes that don't make sense. Now, I'm sure I could watch interviews with the director, and listen to him explain the super-deep meaning behind Possession, however that's my point - I shouldn't have to. I like my fair share of weird movies, but they all make sense within their own internal reality. It's not simply that Possession never gives any answers, it's that it takes fifty minutes to go anywhere interesting, while being bizarre the whole way. Half way through the movie, as my head began to hurt, I had to remind myself that the movie doesn't make sense, and it's not going to. All that being said, I can understand how this film could have an affect on writers/directors, e.g., having to ask myself "what year did _Hellraiser_ come out?" Okay, I'll mention some highlights just to show I am not Mister Bashtheartfilms: 1. the effects are great. 2. Isabelle Adjani. But that's it! Really, I don't know who this is for; it seems too artsy for horror fans, but too horrific for arthouse fans. I can accept that some films are trying to make you think, and some films are like nightmares filtered through a camera. [spoiler]It has become too clear to me that I can't convey what bothers me so much about this movie without going into spoilers, but the problems are woven through the story without ever coming out the other end. Why were Anna, and Helen played by Isabelle? And not just that, Mark even mistakes them at first. _Cemetery Man_ pulled this same trick, but did it better. What is Anna having an affair with, and why does it become Mark? Again, _Hellraiser_ did it better. Why does Bob not want Helen to open the door to AntiMark, and then proceeds to - presumably - drown himself in the tub? Why did Margit keep collapsing? Why is Heinrich dancing when he talks to Mark in one scene? Why did Mark crash the motorcycle? Why did Mark basically go insane at the end? Why did it sound like planes were bombing the city?[/spoiler] These are only a few of the questions I have. I literally had a question for every scene of the movie. That's not good.

2 hours of exciting madness

"I'm not understanding anything but my god that's cool." Grotesque and surreal, Possession comes across as a horror mixed with science fiction (there is a crossover with Squiddy from Spongebob), psychological drama, thriller, and splatter. It's a crazy, mad movie from start to finish, and if you don't understand us unc azzo, relax, that's normal, but there is that something, and not just Isabelle Adjani, that makes this movie very enjoyable. Speaking of Isabelle, MY GOD HOW FUCKING GOOD SHE WAS. THE SUBWAY SCENE IS MIND BLOWING, MY MOUTH WAS OPEN IN AMAZEMENT THE WHOLE TIME. She blends perfectly with the essence of insanity in the film, with those eyes that make you both fear and dread, but also fall in love with her beauty. It is not a film I would recommend to everyone, but my God, if you like this kind of thing, catch it up. 7.5/10

A smorgasbord of hysteria, trauma, angst and themes, Possession is as grating as it is impenetrable to interpretation. Throughout the whole viewing I felt like a child only seeing the tumultuous parts of their parents relationship through an equally rocky divorce. I find the conversations about relationships being shaped by the partners interpretation of the other very intriguing, and symbolising this through a classic 80s body horror style monster was very cool, but I can't shake that the incoherency of the film handicaps the impact of such a message. Layer on top of this the clearly political angle via the soldiers and the Berlin wall, I feel so much was slapped out here in hopes that something sticks, rather than refining what we ultimately got. Definitely one that I'll sit on and muse over before giving my final verdict, but whereas I came away from similar "mood-piece" horrors intrigued and ready to search for answers, something about Possession's absurdity has made me completely disengaged from finding out more.

Boy this movie was INSANE. I had no idea what I was in for, and by the end of it I'm not sure I knew what the hell I had just watched, but I loved it. I immediately watched the making of afterward and will be watching with the commentary track next so I can get some insight to what was going on, but I absolutely loved it. Great effects, beautiful cinematography.