COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - POSSESSOR (SECOND SIGHT FILMS 4K UHD)
Living up to family expectations can be a real pain in the ass. As much as we are told to be our own selves, we can’t escape the looming expectation that is placed upon us by both our families and what our families stand for. The extent to which one’s family imposes on the person will vary, and it is fair to say that the more well-known your parents are the more you may be a target for others’ expectations. When it comes to Horror families, there are some notable names such as Dario/Asia Argento, Ivan/Jason Reitman, and even Stephen King/Joe Hill. One of the most Canadian is easily David/Brandon Cronenberg. The family whose surname has become synonymous with an entire genre of maple-leafed body horror that are example etched into the grotesque history of this sub-genre. Expectations don’t just come from our family, they come because of our families, and it is almost impossible not to compare the father-son duo. In Possessor, Brandon Cronenberg broke out to a much wider audience catapulting him into the stratosphere of young horror filmmakers. Now, Second Sight Film has worked its physical media wizardry and given this modern landmark film the deluxe edition it deserves. Is this set worth making space for?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
An elite corporate assassin takes control of other people's bodies using brain implant technology to execute high-profile targets. With each hit comes a stronger lust for blood, throwing the whole operation into jeopardy.
HOW IS IT?
“Possessor” is a film brimming with ideas. So many ideas that they overwhelm you even before the midway point. Between the violent visual poetry on display, Brandon Cronenberg knows how to tell a good story even when it strays onto various tangents without resolution. For a second feature-length film, “Possessor” is better than most films in many filmmaker's careers and it is easy to see why so many genre fans have started to herald the young Prince of Canadian Horror as a future master. The praise is well deserved, but there is also a sense of coldness that permeates the film that doesn’t work in service of the atmosphere. A hollowness of some ideas, but for no other reason except there are simply too many of them to receive the kind of exploration they leave the audience craving.
Genre favorite Andrea Riseborough takes on the lead role as Tasya Vos. A cold, collected killer who executes mind crimes that blend the supernatural elements of possession with the sci-fi aesthetics of technology and bleak, dystopian corporate landscapes. Tasya’s constant exchanging consciousnesses is wreaking havoc on her ability to function well with her familial roles at home. The disassociation and constant assuming of the lives and bodies of others is as visually jarring as it sounds, and Director of Photography Karim Hussain does a great job showing us just how violent and beautiful this process is. The world the film exists in is draped in drab, lifeless colors with only the faintest hint of color in costuming which makes the blood stand out in an almost Argento way. Watching “Possessor” is just as engrossing as listening to it as the accompanying synth score and dark, ambient sounds only add more dread to an already dreary world. But what most will draw comparison to is the focus on body horror and gore that could easily come from his father’s influence, but I would caution against this comparison as it does neither the service they deserve for their unique perspectives. Brandon may play in the same waters, but he’s also bringing his own flair for ultra-violence that is more grounded in reality than his father’s work. In that way, the violence here feels more urgent and brutal, and in some cases goes above and beyond to shock the viewer into paying attention.
The beautiful and grotesque world of “Possessor” is easy to get lost in, but not just because of how well-developed and realized the landscape is. Some of it has more to do with too many ideas, and not enough time to develop them. This doesn’t always work to the film's disadvantage since it is never boring and has a European dreamlike feel to it, but it does stand out when you find yourself trying to understand how some of the mechanics work. Some of this could’ve been solved by tightening the third act and not taking it in so many directions. To be clear, these aren’t bad choices per se, they just aren’t very additive and feel underdeveloped. Such as the mechanics of why Taysa is losing control, and how Colin (Christopher Abbott) is assuming it are good ideas that also beg a lot of questions, especially when the power struggle shifts and becomes more paranoid-infused. The same can be said of the motivations of Taysa’s employer, which would be mysterious and filled out just enough so that you get the gist even if you want a bit more. Perhaps the problem is this world is simply too interesting to tell just this story, and one would hope that Cronenberg would want to return to “Possessor”, albeit from a different perspective and more focused.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
Second Sight once again proves that when it comes to restoration, even modern films can use an improvement. The 4K UHD disc is a beauty and is easily a marked improvement over the Well-Go USA disc that came out a couple of years ago. The most noticeable difference with Second Sight’s disc is the inclusion of Dolby Vision which does wonders to bring out the darker tones in the film without over-contrasting them. The previous Well-Go disc isn’t a bad transfer by any means, but you can certainly see how much sharper the picture is in the newer release. Comparisons from both releases are shown below:
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
The audio options on “Possessor” seem to be the same as on the last release, with the 5.1 DTS-HD audio track being the default option. It is a great audio track that uses both the front and the rear speakers effectively, especially with the heavy bass-laden parts of the ambient score along with some of the more tense, hallucinogenic moments. The sound in this is immersive, and part of the overall viewing experience so you’d do best watching this on the best speakers you can get a hold of.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
For collectors like yours truly, the art of the special feature is sadly lost on all but the boutique labels out there. The good news is that labels like Second Sight are like John Hammond in that they seem to spare no expense when it comes to compiling the most definitive versions of the films they release. The first feature we took in was the 21-minute This Unfamiliar Life: Interview with Writer/Director Brandon Cronenberg. This single-camera interview has Brandon being asked about how “Possessor” came to be, and his style is far more technical than it is narrative. For those who are uniquely interested in the “how” of filmmaking, Brandon gives a crash course on all that can go right and wrong in minute detail. Over 30 drafts of the script were made on what he continuously refers to as a “messy process” to which he said he dedicated the better part of his 30s making. Humble and thorough, Brandon speaks highly of his collaborators and tells one great story about how he got the infamous ending approved by the producers.
The other feature was a 10-minute FX Show and Tell with Dan Martin. After hearing how much Cronenberg praised his visual effects artist, it felt only right to check out a bit more about how some of the amazing practical effects shots came to be. For those interested in getting into makeup and/or practical work, this is essential viewing. Martin shows early casts of the models, how they will work for the various big set pieces, and also some behind-the-scenes footage of them preparing one of the scenes. Hearing Martin talk about how he came up with these ideas, and what his inspiration was is just another testament to just how much great collaborators can make a world of difference in the final product. A full list of the special features included with this release is below.
Special Features
Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
UHD presented in Dolby Vision HDR approved by Director Brandon Cronenberg and Director of Photography Karim Hussain
New audio commentary by Brandon Cronenberg, Producer Rob Cotterill, Karim Hussain, and Special Effects Artist Dan Martin
This Unfamiliar Life: A New Interview with Brandon Cronenberg
Inside the Machine: a new interview with Karim Hussain
Feel the Real: a new interview with Rob Cotterill
Disassociating from Mind and Body: Zoë Rose Smith on Possessor
Camera Test Footage
FX Show and Tell with Dan Martin
Archive featurette: A Heightened World - A Look at Possessor
Archive featurette: Identity Crisis - Bringing Possessor to Life
Archive featurette: The Joy of Practical - The Effects of Possessor
Deleted Scenes
Short Film: Please Speak Continuously and Describe Your Experiences as They Come to You
Trailer
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Marko Manev
120-page book featuring an extensive behind-the-scenes gallery, script-to-screen comparisons, new essays by Stacey Abbott, Anton Bitel, Jon Towlson, and Heather Wixson
6 collectors' art cards
LAST RITES
“Possessor” is in many ways a Cronenberg film both in terms of family legacy and his own unique spin on the aptly titled genre namesake. It is something that begs a revisitation, and while it doesn’t have enough time to adequately devote to all its amazing ideas, it does leave the viewer wanting more. This package from Second Sight is far and away the best this release will get and deserves a spot on every collector’s shelf.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at AIM Publicity and Second Sight Films for providing a review copy for the crypt! Possessor is available NOW and can be purchased via Second Sight Direct!
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