Review of Possessor
midlandsmovies • February 7, 2021
Possessor (2020) DIr. Brandon Cronenberg
Dad would be proud. Okay, so it is derivative to compare a director to their famous parent but Brandon Cronenberg’s belated follow up to his 2012 debut Antiviral has many of the hallmarks of David Cronenberg’s work. Not only that, it delivers with aplomb.
If Antiviral focused on our obsession with celebrity culture – with an increasingly deranged and sickly Caleb Landry Jones consuming the illnesses of the rich and famous – Possessor is far more concerned with how we present ourselves to others.
Andrea Riseborough plays Tasya Vos, an assassin working for an illicit company which has the technology to place their agents into another’s body. From here they can conduct a hit while framing someone close to the victim, or a known enemy.
Vos is one of the best, as her handler Girder (Jennifer Jason Leigh) explains, but early on we see the toll that the work is taking. As if the bodies she inhabits are also taking a little bit of her. Riseborough really shines in these scenes where Vos tries desperately to put on a face of normality. She rehearses life around her child and partner.
Cronenberg does an excellent job with the script, never wholly reliant on shocking set-pieces, although he satisfies the gorehounds with some truly uncomfortable moments. Brandon shows the same skill for satire that his father has. Moments of Possessor feel like a skewer for the very art of acting – not just how we present ourselves in an increasingly technological world but how actors assimilate themselves with a character.
He also knows exactly how much to show us. There are no repetitive segments of Vos jumping from body to body. After the first murder (which sets up the film) Vos only inhabits one more person; Colin Tate, the future son-in-law of a wealthy CEO.
Here the film switches, with Riseborough taking a backseat for a star making turn from Christopher Abbott. Abbot plays the vulnerable Tate with a real sensitivity and is even more impressive when Vos has taken over. Switching between the mannerisms of the two characters, Abbott steals the movie as he struggles with the cold, calculating killing of Vos, and his own remorse at what is happening.
Possessor also looks amazing. Once again working with director of photography Karim Hussain, Cronenberg turns the Canadian cityscapes into bleak, dystopian metropolises. Impressively, there’s also little CGI, with the majority of effects done practically – giving the film a surreal, rough edge.
It’s guilty of style over substance at times. The second half hangs on how attached the viewer is to Abbott’s character, and the finale features a fairly hollow twist, that surprises but feels a little unearned. Like Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade, Possessor relies on you having so much fun with the concept that you will occasionally overlook the flaws.
Matthew Tilt
Twitter @Matthew_Tilt
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett & Matt Burkey for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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