‘The Possession’ is genuinely haunting

Tzadok (Matisyahu, left), Em (Natasha Calis, center), Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, back) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick, right) star in “The Possession” (Courtesy Diyah Pera/MCT).

by Danielle Harter

The Possession” is a horror story in which a young, innocent girl deals with her parents’ (Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Kyra Sedgwick) divorce, becomes obsessed with a mysterious box, and experiences unexplainable forces that change her personality altogether. Emily (Natasha Calis) begs her father to buy her an interesting box at a yard-sale. Little does anyone know, the evil spirit inside the box would soon get out and totally transform the girl and everyone in its path.

Director Ole Bornedal’s last thriller was “Deliver Us from Evil” in 2009. Based on the story of “The Possession,” it seems as though he has not changed his style tremendously.

The beginning of “The Possession” states that the movie is based on true events. Whether the viewer believes supernatural things like this happen or not, the story is quite believable. The movie makes it seem like this could possibly happen, mainly because of its intense effects. This terrifying movie will make viewers laugh a little bit, because it’s so scary they’ll naturally do that to keep from crying. Even the toughest of movie-viewers would shake in their boots. The loud screams and vivid scenes are enough to make viewers grab the person sitting next to them.

There is never a dull moment in the movie. “The Possession” is full of excitement and has a great plot. The box takes over young Emily and turns her into an aggressive, vicious, confused Emily. This confuses her parents and sister, who know her best, because she is a totally different girl than the one they knew before. Later on, the family finds out just why the box has had such an impact on their innocent Emily.

The movie concludes in an unexpected way. As usual with horror movies, it’s doesn’t truly “end.” Naturally, it might leave the viewer hanging a little bit because it doesn’t really finish the story.

“The Possession” is a success because of its great effects, vivid cinematography, and clear plot. Compared to other recent horror movies, the movie is much easier to understand and keep up with. In addition to that, the acting is very believable.  “The Possession” is for viewers who want a genuinely haunting movie.