Possum

I hadn't heard of this gem until I saw the poster for it on Amazon Prime, which instantly intrigued me. I thought for sure it would be awful, and didn't expect to make it more than 20 minutes in, but I was in a weird mood, it was raining outside, and this seemed fitting to watch. I ended up enjoying it enough to watch again a few months later. A second viewing made it all come together which made me like it even more.

This is a slow, repetitive film, and I can see why some people would think it's boring, confusing, and/or very strange (maybe even stupid). I don't know why I'm not one of those people. I never got bored, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and weirdness. Watching it the second time, everything fit perfectly and what was confusing the first time around made complete sense this time. There isn't any conversation or imagery that doesn't fit with the story. In fact, now I notice how deliberate the director was in his choices, and it's all very impressive to me. Sean Harris is incredible in this film. I have only seen a few of his other roles and this was so different and dark for him. Possum showcases what a great actor he really is.

This is not an uplifting story by any means. There are very uncomfortable moments, and some ambiguity which makes it hard at times to know what to feel. It's not exactly horror, although there are creepy and intense moments. I'd say it's more psychological/metaphorical. If you have an open mind, are into weird and dark movies, this may be for you. I didn't expect to like it so much, but I'm really happy I gave it a chance. I'm actually a bit sad to see so many low ratings.

Found this little gem on Halloween and glad I did. Even though it's not a typical horror persae I would lump it in with Babadook. However I found this movie had more weight than Babadook. Possum is emotionally and psychologically heavy and even though it's a slow burner (some may tire easy) it does hold your attention with very few actors. The film is very atmospheric and does not rely on jump scares but paints a very sad picture indeed. Bleak and sinister af the end made me feel sick, worth a watch.

This was a legitimately solid movie. It somehow managed to feel strange albeit perverted without the use of any exploitive tropes. The feeling of unease definitely comes from the puppet itself; the use of old grungy synths adds to it's abrasively painful presence. The perforemances were never theatrical, but still has the edge of beingn satirical without ever being 'funny'. Expect to get creeped out//or at least uncomfortable when watching. I watched during the daytime and was still frazzled for angood 2 hours after watching. Brit Horror doesnit again. 7/10

I really don't understand how this film only has a 5.6 rating on here. Are we really that desperate to get baited with a jumpscare that a good film like this will simply get overlooked and criticized for simply building up suspense?

Anyways, while the movie may tend to get a bit tedious towards the midpoint, it does tend to feed you just enough information to keep you intrigued until the last half hour, which is absolutely exceptional and possibly the most scared I've ever been watching a horror. However, that does not change that fact that if you miss a tidbit of info, you may become lost and therefore uninvested in the film from there. Sean Harris and Alun Armstrong both do exceptional jobs in their roles in this film; their performances alone are worth seeing this film. The puppet or "Possum" is pure nightmare fuel, and some of the practical affects of this film are really quite convincing in making it seem alive. The soundtrack by the Radiophonic Workshop in this film is unbelievable, and I don't think this movie would be able to succeed without it.

There's also countless metaphors throughout the movie, several shots that pay homage to movies such as Trainspotting, and an absolutely shocking ending. However, it's probably best that there are no spoilers on this review, and instead recommend that you see this film yourself. If you're into horror movies with a large level of suspense throughout, without relying on the easy satisfaction of jumpscares, this film should definitely be next on your list.

I enjoyed the first half. It was atmospheric, intriguing, bleak but beautiful. In the second half it starts rehearsing itself as if just to fill time. Very slowly leads it up to the exact conclusion you thought it would have. The latter isn't necessarily bad just feels unrewarding after sitting through so much filler.