THE POSSESSION
US, 2012, 92 minutes, Colour.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra Sedgwick, Natasha Calis, Madison Davenport, Matisyahu, Grant Show, Jay Brazeau.
Directed by Ole Bornedal.
The Possession is another exorcist film, with many of the conventions of the genre. However, there is a significant difference, the film having a Jewish setting and the possessing demon being a Dybbuk (although many Jews do not consider exorcism as part of their tradition).
The film centres on a mysterious box which the audience has seen wreaking destruction on its owner. A divorced husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, has custody of his two daughters for the weekend and goes to a yard sale with his younger daughter choosing the box. The spirit is female, the box is opened, and the spirit takes possession of the young girl. While the father is frantic, the mother, Kyra Sedgwick, increases her anger against her former husband.
Eventually, the husband goes to New York City, consults some rabbis, discovers an expert (played by Matisyahu, an authentic Rabbi) who comes to exercise the exorcism. He is successful, the Dybbuk returning to its box, but…
1. The title? Possession by evil spirits? The box as a sinister possession? The Jewish background? The Dybbuk? Jewish traditions and exorcisms?
2. The American town, homes, school, the new house, hospitals? Authentic atmosphere?
3. The contrast with New York City, the Jewish neighbourhoods, the meeting with the rabbis? The musical score?
4. The film based on a true story? Exorcism genre and conventions? The mysterious box, the evil power, confined, getting out, seeking the innocent, possessing the innocent and consequences, destructive consequences, overpowering another personality, the possibilities for exorcism and healing?
5. The Jewish background for this kind of film, the comparison with the audience familiarity with Catholic situations, beliefs? Jewish evil spirits and tradition? The rituals and performance? Containing the evil?
6. The family breakup, Clyde and Stephanie, the divorce, the effect on their daughters? Clyde as a basketball coach, with the men, his style, getting them to imagine their techniques? The separation and his building a new house, coming home to get his boxes, the material on his computer and clearing it? His not turning up to his daughter’s performance? The job offer in North Carolina and Stephanie’s anger? The clashes with his ex-wife? Taking Hannah and Emily for weekends, the strict injunctions about their food? Their being comfortable with their father? Hannah and her dance performance? Emily and her eagerness?
7. Going to the yard sale, buying the box, Emily treasuring it, opening it, wearing the ring? The insects and the torment? Clyde killing the insect? Emily and her moods, chomping the food, saying there was a woman inside that she could not see? Confronting her father, the blows? Hannah’s reaction? Stephanie and her anger?
8. Stephanie and Brett, the relationship, his being in the house, Clyde’s anger? Emily confronting Brett, his being attacked, the blood and his teeth, the collapse?
9. Clyde going to see the professor, the explanation of the box, the Hebrew lettering, Clyde driving to New York City, the meeting with the rabbis? The young rabbi travelling to the home, to the hospital?
10. Stephanie and Emily, the tantrums, Stephanie being mystified, the risk to the life, taking her to hospital?
11. At the hospital, the rituals, taking her to a separate room, the prayer, the ousting of the spirit, the visuals of it creeping back towards the box? Clyde willing to sacrifice his life, the violence to him?
12. Emily restored, Stephanie and Clyde and their bonding again, the final scenes of a happy family?
