Possessor is a 2020 sci-fi psychological horror thriller that focuses on a contract assassin using brain-implant technology.
Possessor is exceptionally unique. It’s truly the best compliment you can give to a movie like this. It’s probably something that you haven’t seen a lot of before. Written and directed by the insanely talented Brandon Cronenberg, known for his feature debut Antiviral, it’s an absolutely incredible genre feature. However, keep in mind that it’s not for everyone. Some people will love it, while others will hate it. If you know what you’re getting into, get ready to experience one of the best films of 2020.
Possessor showcases a very fascinating concept for its premise, and it focuses on a “possessor” named Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough) who takes on a dangerous mission that will forever change her life. A “possessor” is a contract assassin who utilizes brain-implant technology in order to transfer their consciousness into another person’s body and kill high profile targets. That’s the best way to summarize the film without giving away too much. There’s more going on, and it’s highly recommended to see it without knowing a lot of details.
When it starts out, it perfectly sets up the overall premise. The intro alone will keep you invested from beginning to end. From the get-go, Cronenberg does a fantastic job setting up the tone and atmosphere of the movie. The camerawork from cinematographer Karim Hussain deserves a ton of praise as it marvelously captures the unhinged insanity. Also, the editing, musical score and visuals are merged together in an outstanding way. With an interesting mix of sci-fi, thriller and psychological horror elements, it superbly combines those three styles of filmmaking into one triumphant piece of genre cinema. When you’re seeing the process of mind transference on screen, it’s quite something. As mentioned in the start of this review, Possessor won’t appeal to everyone for sure. Some scenes will be too much for you to handle, especially when it comes to graphic violence. They’re not really gratuitous, because they’re brilliantly well-executed. The filmmakers go all out, and you have to commend them for bringing the director’s innovative ideas to life.
It has a remarkable cast of actors such as Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Gabrielle Graham, and they’re all great in their roles. While Possessor is an insane sci-fi psychological horror thriller, it’s mostly a very compelling character-driven story. It’s intriguing seeing the main protagonist adjust to a new body, which adds a lot of depth to the character of Vos. Everything is fleshed out, because the storytelling from Cronenberg’s screenplay is well thought out and masterfully executed.
Possessor is a phenomenal masterpiece, and it’s amazing seeing Cronenberg’s cinematic vision in front of the camera. It’s guaranteed that it will leave you speechless the moment you’re done watching it. If you’re someone who loves this type of cinema, you will be immensely satisfied. It’s one of the most violent and disturbing genre films ever made. Make sure you watch the uncut version for the real experience.