Check these picks for Halloween fare
It has now been 50 years since one of the most financially successful horror pictures of all time was released to audiences. The Exorcist (1973) was a landmark and influential film that told the story of a little girl being possessed by a demon. It included a lengthy and memorable confrontation between the force and a pair of Catholic priests. The movie became Warner Bros.’ all-time highest grossing picture during its original run and is still adored by fans today.
With Halloween arriving and readers looking for creepy viewing options, it seems like an appropriate time to examine just a few of the effective and underseen possession films from the past five decades.
For those who don’t enjoy the horror genre at all, there is a title or two to check out. The comedy All of Me (1984) stars Steve Martin as an attorney who is asked to amend the will of a wealthy but notoriously difficult client. As it turns out, this woman (played by Lily Tomlin) is a bedridden spinster who believes she is about to die and has hired a mystic to transfer her soul into another willing individual.
A mistake occurs and the protagonist finds her soul both in his head and in possession of half of his body. There is some dated humor and it takes a while for things to get cooking, but once the soul transfer occurs, Martin’s performance is amazing. He truly convinces viewers that two different people are fighting to control his character’s body and the physical struggles are outrageously funny to behold. The movie has never received a Blu-ray release, but is available to stream for free on a few sites.
That same year, independent producers Cannon Films came up with one of the most bizarre and half-baked movie ideas ever. They decided that a film combining elements from their popular Enter the Ninja series with Flashdance and The Exorcist would result in box office gold. The result was Ninja III: The Domination (1984), one of the most ludicrous pictures of its era.
It features an aerobics instructor (Lucinda Dickey) who gets possessed by an evil ninja and goes on a rampage. Everything about it is completely bonkers and it’s the kind of movie that generates laugh-out-loud moments instead of chills. One of the movie’s most notable sequences involves a Japanese exorcist performing a ritual that results in the possessed woman literally spinning head over heels.
But what about films that are actually scary? Naturally, you can’t go wrong with the original The Exorcist. It’s still at the top of the heap for possession movies.
The film boasts unusually high production value, a thoughtful screenplay about the struggle between good and evil, showstopping effects work and compelling performances from Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller, Ellen Burstyn and young Linda Blair. The exorcism scenes truly feel like a battle being waged and the climax involving a steep set of stairs is hard to forget.
Surprisingly, one of its official follow-ups is also worth a watch.
The Exorcist III (1990) is a sequel that focuses on the police detective from the first movie (in this film the character is played by George C. Scott). He investigates a case involving an institutionalized serial killer who has a connection to the original feature. As the story progresses, viewers learn that a familiar demonic entity in the murderer’s body is possessing patients and staff at a local hospital, resulting in more slayings.
Like the original film, this effort was written by William Peter Blatty (based on his own novel), with Blatty himself also taking over the directorial reins. The film exudes an eerie atmosphere throughout and features a couple beautifully staged jolts (a long shot involving a hospital corridor is impossible to forget).
Although many might not initially think of them as demonic possession movies, the Evil Dead series from Sam Raimi are great titles that do fit into the category. His original trilogy, including The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987) and the more comedic Army of Darkness (1992) are genuine cult classics.
The first two claustrophobic efforts are set at a remote cabin and feature college-age kids playing a recording of an archeologist reading the Necronomicon or Book of the Dead. The group must do battle with a Kandarian demon who physically attacks and possesses several of the characters. The movie made a horror hero of its lead Ash (Bruce Campbell). In the high-energy second film (my personal favorite), the hero’s hand becomes possessed by the demon, which leads to a bloody confrontation that is both horrifying and hilarious as the man battles his own severed appendage.
The later Starz series Ash vs Evil Dead (2015 - 2018) continued delivering more gruesome fun. And for those wondering, the Evil Dead (2013) remake is also quite potent and worth checking out. As for the recent Evil Dead Rise (2023), it certainly has its moments, but takes a deadly serious approach to the material. This lack of humor ultimately exposes some of the concept’s sillier attributes.
Another effort that may make one initially scratch their heads is the Spanish found-footage feature REC (2007). It presented audiences with the tale of a T.V. newswoman stuck in a quarantined apartment complex where a viral outbreak turns people into zombie-like monsters.
So, what does any of this have to do with possession movies? Well, the equally impressive REC 2 (2009) picks up immediately after the close of the first chapter and relays more backstory. A military team and Ministry of Health figure storm the locale wearing body cams, but it is soon revealed that the government worker is a priest working for the Vatican. He reveals that the outbreak is not virus-based and that “patient zero” who is hiding within the building is actually possessed by a demon.
This twist spins the entire series in a new and fascinating direction. It’s a fast-paced, pulse-pounding and terrifying feature that puts viewers in the middle of the action and makes them feel as though they are present with the leads. A couple of additional sequels followed, but neither capture the excitement and urgency of the first two films.
Insidious (2010) from James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw) is a possession film that also sends shivers down the spine.
This tale follows a family whose youngest son falls into a coma. When family members start seeing a threatening red-faced demon randomly appearing, the father (Patrick Wilson) learns that he has the power to project himself into the spiritual purgatory where his child is lost, all among the dark forces who seek to possess him.
Obviously, story elements harken back to The Exorcist, but this movie manages to add new wrinkles by sending characters into a supernatural dimension filled with demons. The cast are compelling and the movie’s jump scares are perfectly timed, making the film quite effective (for this reviewer, none of the following chapters have been as successful).
One title that seems to have fallen off of the radar is the period chiller, The Quiet Ones (2014). Yes, it doesn’t deliver anything truly unique, but it is a potent homage to British supernatural horror films of the 1970s.
The plot involves a student hired to film an experiment involving a young patient who either has a psychological disorder, telekinetic powers, or has been demonically possessed. This young man becomes sympathetic to her and as strange manifestations continue, his inability to remain impartial puts the entire group in danger. The film is no masterpiece and the ending doesn’t land perfectly, but the performances from Jared Harris, Sam Claflin and Olivia Cooke are solid, some of the jolts work and the movie certainly suggests that the possession theory may have some merit.
Of course, a recent and very different title making a big splash is the Australian film Talk to Me (2023). This effort includes a severed, embalmed hand that very briefly allows a user to be possessed by a random spirit from beyond the grave. When a 17-year-old (Sophie Wilde) and her friends play the game, the brief interaction initially gives them a drug-like rush. But when one of the players is left too long in the void, he loses control of his body and what follows is truly unsettling.
The movie milks every opportunity to send chills down the spine and does so with style and aplomb. While there are a few moments that stretch believability (like the lack of security at a local hospital), this is a very different and original take on the possession film that delivers the goods.
Those are just a few movies that may be of interest.
If you’re looking for more ideas, The Amityville Horror (1979) features demonic forces in a house influencing the actions of a family man (James Brolin). While this “true story” was eventually revealed to be a hoax, it still has its share of spine-chilling moments.
The stoner horror/comedy Idle Hands (1999), involved a lazy teen doing battle with his own severed and demonically possessed hand. It entertained this reviewer as a young man and has since become a cult item.
Additionally, the moody prequel Annabelle: Creation (2017) has plenty of atmosphere and stands as the best title in the Conjuring spin-off series.
And that is only a few of the many possession films just waiting to be watched and worm their way into your psyche this Halloween.
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By Glenn Kay
For the Sun