Possessor (2020)

14 November 2020

The Cronenberg name is known for some disturbing films (he usually is categorized under "body horror") that leave their own signature style. This is one of the first second generation Cronenberg films: Possessor (2020). It came out at Sundance this past January. It's about an assassin under a large corporation that possesses people and leverages them to kill targets, then themselves. However, in this film the plan falls apart and the possessed person regains control.

It's a weird movie. Its visuals switch between womblike Andres Serrano stills and B-movie ultraviolence that make for a jarring experience. Something stark and sterile also persists across the film, I think both in cinematography and acting, that made this difficult to sit through. The acting really felt unnerving, with the lens showing the main character having serious issues, but turning around the phrase "I'm fine" without being an eye.

It's a film with plenty of problems, but its tone and atmosphere make up for it in spades. The story doesn't entirely come together, and you'll scratch your head about some of it (most bothersome to me was that for this line of work, there isn't much prep work or research done). But it will make you uneasy and keep you there for the length of the film. 7/10