The Possessed

As I sat down here late in 2022 to watch the 2021 horror movie "The Possessed", I did so without ever having heard about this movie from director Chris Sun. I will say that the movie's synopsis sounded interesting enough, and a horror movie with possessions that I hadn't already seen was sufficient to make me want to sit down and watch it.

Writers Kirsty Dallas, Mark Gardener, John Kendrick and Chris Sun put together an entertaining enough script and plot for the movie. Sure, it was somewhat generic and predictable, but it made for an adequate enough horror movie. "The Possessed" is not going to become a classic within this particular subgenre of horror movies, but it made for an okay enough viewing experience, though I doubt I will ever return to watch it a second time.

The acting performances in "The Possessed" were fair enough. I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble, but the actors and actresses put on fair enough performances to carry the movie.

Something that did impress me in "The Possessed" was the special effects. I liked the CGI effects and the designs of the various demonic entities was quite impressive. I was actually really surprised with the level of quality here in the CGI and special effects department for a movie such as this. And it definitely helped to lift up the movie quite a notch.

I am rating "The Possessed" a five out of ten stars.

Based on a true life story, it tells of how an "accidental exorcist" battles the evil supernatural forces around us, and helping to "cleanse" those who become possessed by these entities.

The effects both practical and CG, are effective and very well done, but I thought the film could've had added more atmosphere, dread and intensity with a more potent film score, combined with better character writing and story elements. But, overall a decent genre film. 7/10.

I normally love these supernatural films, but this one doesn't work. Its photographed well, and most of the cast is OK, not great but an Aussie possession film mainly shot during the day is actually quite odd and NOT scary at all.

John Jarret is a legend, but he doesn't suit this character at all, even if it's based on a real guy. The waving the hands around a person is so comical and cringeworthy. Sometimes it's better as a film-maker to make changes for the audience especially cringe-factors.

The best actress in the film is Lauren Grimson, a talented and attractive actress. Lincoln Lewis is also good, but everyone else seem like they were just dropped into the film because they knew the director.

The story is weak and not believable, some of the VFX or SPFX is good, but then some are really bad. Its a bad mix. The creature designs on some demons are EPIC, I'll give it that.

There's a scene in the film, when they just had the lights turning on and off constantly - leaving no suspense at all and desensitising the audience. Thats not scary when you do it 100 times, think of JAWS and how many times you see the shark.

Not much else to say apart from, terrible soundtrack, terrible film, terrible story, the lighting in the houses is atrocious, it's not professional lighting and the color grading is not ascetically good to look at, it looks cheap and rushed, not cinematic at all. And I don't know how this director keeps making these B or D grade films.

This would have been a lot better if it hadn't been presented as a "true story" based on "actual events." As a Catholic, I have no doubt the existence of demons and evil spirits. This guy makes exorcists look like circus sideshow freaks. For those of you who already hold that belief, go ahead and feel free to skip this movie altogether. It's not for you.

Having said that, it's an interesting work of FICTION as is perfectly entertaining as far as that goes. The problem comes when you try to associate this with reality. When they show the guy on whom this was based at the end, you lose all interest in everything you just watched. You're better off watching this as entertainment and stopping the movie as soon as the credits begin to roll. You'll feel much better about having spent an hour and a half watching this.

I've watched several new horror films in the past week and this film is the only one I would watch again. Not because it was a great horror film, or well done, or well acted, it isn't any of those things. What it is is so hilariously, over the top, they've got to be kidding, bad, that it is very funny and immensely entertaining. I watched it with a friend who rarely gets movies that are so bad they are good, but we weren't long into this when he started to laugh, then I followed and we both laughed throughout it. It get's funny and then gets funnier. Since there is one character who was obviously put in this horror film to add comic relief, I can't help wonder if this really was filmed as a comedy. I know it's based on some real life stuff, but this was preposterous. I find it hard to believe anyone would view this as a real horror film, but as a spoof of possession films, this completely works. Loved it !