The Possession

PG-13

Released Aug 31, 2012

1 hr. 31 min.

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

39%

101 Reviews

Tomatometer

48%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When their youngest daughter, Em (Natasha Calis), becomes strangely obsessed with an antique wooden box bought from a yard sale, parents Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm. However, Em becomes increasingly unstable, leading the couple to fear the presence of a malevolent force. To their horror, Clyde and Stephanie learn that the box contains a dybbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits -- and ultimately devours -- a human host.

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Critics Consensus

It may be based on a true story, but that doesn't excuse the way The Possession repeatedly falls back on hoary ghost movie clichés -- or the uninentional laughs it provides.

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Hargie M

Common horror trope.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

Full Review

Cynthia K

Despite many poor reviews here, I actually loved this movie! The fact that Jeffery Dean Morgan stars in this hidden gem, in and of itself, makes it worth watching. BUT... can we talk about Natasha Calis for moment here?! 😍 Calis played the young (and possessed 😬) Emily aka Em, and she was Fantastic! 😍 You could see that the 'evil spirit' was within her and taking over but, in her eyes, you could also see the young, scared Em. I would totally recommend this movie 🍿 This is one I will gladly watch many times over 🤗

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/23

Full Review

Tyler B

It's made well but as for the story goes, well... we've been there and done that many times before.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/17/23

Full Review

Sean S

Decent actors and possible story line. Nothing real great, but not terrible.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/03/23

Full Review

Amanda D

It was Brillent horror film wasn't expecting the ending bit but yes scary but good film to watch tho is there a second 1 enybody love jeffery dean morgan film his been in a few horror films plus supernatural as well

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/10/23

Full Review

KEVIN C

This looks like it will be the usual dime a dozen possession movies and in some ways it does follow familiar tropes. What I enjoyed about this is the acting was believable from Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Kyra Sedgwick as divorced parents of two girls, one of which begins acting strangely after buying a mysterious wooden box at a yard sale. Well acted and the story of the box was different and intriguing. A little above average and worth a watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/15/22

Full Review

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Ole Bornedal

Director

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Clyde

Kyra Sedgwick

Stephanie

Natasha Calis

Em

Madison Davenport

Hannah

Grant Show

Brett

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J. Hoberman

Tablet

By objectifying Jews as exotic others rather than presenting them as subjects, the Raimi production eliminates the precise element that would have been most powerful for a Jewish audience.

Aug 16, 2017

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

This effective little creeper is the only Judaic pastiche of The Exorcist you're likely to see this year. That alone gives it a jump on the umpteen other evil/possessed-child films that have become a seemingly monthly genre staple of late.

Sep 7, 2012

Full Review

Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Director Ole Bornedal doesn't add a single idea of his own.

Sep 6, 2012

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Just barely manages to set itself apart from the generic possession subgenre, though only barely.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Iván Kazi

EscribiendoCine

Despite the film's technical precision and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, The Possession doesn't offer anything novel or particularly entertaining. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/10

Jun 13, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A PG-13-rated chiller that starts out spooky enough but gradually turns toward the cliché and silly.

Rated: 1/4

Oct 3, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

When their youngest daughter, Em (Natasha Calis), becomes strangely obsessed with an antique wooden box bought from a yard sale, parents Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm. However, Em becomes increasingly unstable, leading the couple to fear the presence of a malevolent force. To their horror, Clyde and Stephanie learn that the box contains a dybbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits -- and ultimately devours -- a human host.

Director: Ole Bornedal
Executive Producer: Stan Wertlieb, Peter Schlessel, John Sacchi, Nathan Kahane, Joseph Drake, Michael Paseornek, Nicole Brown
Screenwriter: Juliet Snowden, Stiles White
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Ghost House Pictures, Lionsgate Films
Rating: PG-13 (Mature Thematic Material|Disturbing Sequences|Violence)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.1M
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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