The Possession -2012-2012 [2021] -
Released in August 2012, The Possession arrived during a renaissance of critically engaged horror (e.g., The Conjuring , Sinister , Insidious ). However, unlike films that utilized Catholic demonology or vague pagan entities, The Possession centered on the Jewish dybbuk —a soul that cannot find rest and thus inhabits the living. Directed by Dane Ole Bornedal ( Nightwatch ) and produced by Sam Raimi, the film follows Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a recently divorced father, whose young daughter Emily (Natasha Calis) buys a carved wooden box at a yard sale. Unbeknownst to the family, the box contains a dybbuk , which proceeds to possess Emily, leading to a desperate exorcism ( gerush ) performed by a Hasidic Jewish community.
One of the most effective elements of The Possession is its emphasis on practical effects and atmosphere over cheap jump scares. The scene involving moths emerging from Em’s throat is a masterclass in skin-crawling imagery, highlighting the "body horror" aspect of the possession. Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivers a grounded performance as a father desperate to save his child, grounding the supernatural chaos in a relatable emotional struggle. The Possession -2012-2012
Cinematic horror often relies on Catholic iconography: green vomit, spinning heads, and crucifixes. The Possession refreshed the genre by introducing the dybbuk . Released in August 2012, The Possession arrived during
The story centers on (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a recently divorced father who is struggling to maintain a connection with his two daughters, Em and Hannah. Unbeknownst to the family, the box contains a
Released in late summer 2012, The Possession (often searched as "The Possession -2012-2012" by film catalogers and enthusiasts) stands as one of the more commercially successful and atmospherically distinct entries of the early 21st century. Directed by Danish filmmaker Ole Bornedal and produced by horror titans Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, the film is infamous not just for its on-screen scares, but for its connection to a real-life eBay auction that captivated the internet.
