I believe to some sort of degree we’ve all been covetous of our neighbors. How many of us grew up with some sort of celebrity gazing down upon us while we lay in bed? I’ll be the first to admit it. I had a Chris O’Donnell Robin poster, from the movie Batman Forever, right behind my door, while I reserved Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft for my bedside. As I grew up, I’d look to men like Roger Ebert and desire to be him or at least someone like him. This caused enough daydreams that I could probably open up a movie studio and have enough content for at least ten years.
Over time the nature of coveting grows into obsession. Much like a Pokémon, it feels like the next step in evolution. We either grow away from our idols or we grow dangerously closer. The light of my fantasy dimmed many moons ago. For me, I guess, I found that chasing after someone else’s white picket fence really wasn’t for me. If you are happy going for your fence, more power to you. We all grow at different rates through life. Don’t get me wrong, there are still days where I wish I didn’t have to clock in at a day job, that I could solely be paid to do this. What you’re reading, right now, is my passion. It took a great deal of hurt, blood, and sleepless nights to arrive here.
Some days even passions aren’t pure; you still need rest for your mental health. Oddly enough, that’s where we find our title character in Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor Uncut. The movie serves as a follow-up to his 2012 movie, Antiviral. Possessor Uncut tells the story of Tasya (Andrea Riseborough) who goes through an identity crisis while on assignment for her corporation. I’m purposefully attempting to make the plot as vague as possible. Honestly, the less you know about this movie the more effective it is. The only other detail I will say is that Riseborough and co-star Christopher Abbott are basically the same character.
That’s what I found myself loving so much about this movie. This movie is eerily beautiful. Cronenberg is able to establish a completely unique visual aesthetic that takes up residency in the natural and supernatural simultaneously. Some of the film’s cinematography is stunning and proves Cronenberg’s talent as a traditional filmmaker. When I say traditional filmmaker, I’m specifically singling out Christopher Nolan. There are some wide shots in this movie that feel like they belong in Inception or Tenet. Then you have the weirder shots like engrossing yellows, reds, and blues that are laced with stunning practical effects. This marriage is what allows Possessor to retain its visually artistic edge.
One of the awesome bonus features on the Blu-Ray is a short featurette called “The Joy of Practical”. This feature brought the movie into a brand new light for me: showing how Cronenberger was able to bring this world to life using little to no CGI. The practical effects, much like the visuals, are stunning. When the two are brought together it’s a collison of worlds. In some ways, the practical effects come across as a love letter to the movies his father used to make in the 80s, while the visual overlays allow the final product to feel sleek and modern. Possessor is a one of a kind visual treat that slings its way into your eye sockets and never let’s go.
While it’s a stunning film on a visual level, it’s an equally compelling drama about identity and morals. The duality between Abbott and Riseborough is nothing short of excellent. Abbott delivers one of the finest performances of his careers. When it’s matched alongside Riseborough it truly completes the package. The film would feel lost if it wasn’t for both of them and the gravitas they bring. Possessor continually keeps you guessing, which is something that I found myself truly admiring about this movie. Cronenberg expertly plans out his vision for this movie never once allowing the film to drag or make viewers bored.
Overall, Possessor Uncut is a bizarre delight. A movie that unashamedly arrests its audience through a visual masterpiece that finds itself in timeless themes, a haunting score, and blockbuster level cinematography. The dual nature of stars Andrea Riseborough and Christopher Abbott at its center is a marvelous treat that thrusts viewers past the visual aesthetic and into a compelling narrative. Both performances are nothing short of grand. Possessor Uncut is a love letter to the 80s, wrapped up in stunning modern day visuals and dares to leave the viewer speechless. Spoiler alert, it worked.
Blu-Ray Notes: Most Blu-Rays these days are basically higher quality DVDs. They merely contain the movie. Once upon a time, what made DVDs so great was the ability to go in depth and behind the scenes of the movie you just spent your hard earned cash on. While Possessor Uncut is a great movie, it’s equally a great Blu-Ray. Not only are you getting to check out other recommendations from Well GO USA but this has some truly awesome features - even if they are scarce. The Blu-Ray has a couple deleted scenes. They’re okay, but what really makes this worth the purchase is the featurettes which cover the look, practical effects, and the acting process. It really elevated the film to a new level for me and brought a new found respect. This is a high recommendation for me.
RORSCHACH RATING
Mental Health Moment: It’s odd to be writing this when I am at this point in my life. As a comic nerd, I have a few stories that I always come back to and read at least once a year. Or at the very least, once every other year. One of these is Ghost in the Shell, which I ironically began re-reading last night. The connecting points between Ghost and Possessor would definitely be identity and purpose. When we first meet the character of Andrea Riseborough she is experiencing distress. She seems like she is seriously lost. As the film progresses her character is intertwined with Christopher Abbott. Her inability to let go from Abbott to herself fuels the themes of searching.
Sometimes when we are at our lowest we can turn to unhealthy and/or destructive avenues. It’s like there is something birthed within us that is programmed to fill that void. Sometimes we have things that work wonders for our mental health. Things like therapy, poetry, music, or even community. Avenues that allow us to open ourselves up in healthy ways and convey what we are feeling, rather than allowing it to fester within. But there are other things too, within which lie unhealthy alternatives which can lead to toxic (and/or abusive) relationships, isolation, and addiction. It is important to be open and honest with ourselves. Likewise, we should also find ways to express that identity in healthy measures. I would recommend checking out our episode on Trauma, where we sat down with a trauma specialist to discuss the immediate and long term effects as well. You can click here.
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and you are struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message or tweet to us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey (and produced by) and more. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Possessor Uncut is property of Neon Pictures & Well Go USA. We do not own nor claim any rights. Possessor Uncut is now available on VOD and comes to Blu-Ray, 4K & DVD beginning December 8th, 2020.
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