Drama horror film

Possession (1983): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Name: Possession
Genre: Drama, Horror
Released: 1983-10-28
Duration: 2 h 4 min
Cast: Sam Neill, Isabelle Adjani, Margit Carstensen, Heinz Bennent, Carl Duering

Possession is a 1983 drama horror film directed by Andrzej Zulawski, starring Sam Neill, Isabelle Adjani and Margit Carstensen. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes. Critics gave it 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating: 7.3/10
Metascore: 75

Loading streaming availability…

Watch the trailer Read the plot summary

Released: October 28, 1983
Runtime: 2h 4m (124 min)
Director: Andrzej Zulawski
Genres: Drama , Horror
Original language: English
Studio: Metrograph Pictures
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Possession About?

The premise of Possession without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A crumbling marriage descends into a vortex of violence as a man desperately seeks answers about his wife's infidelity. His relentless pursuit of the truth leads him into a shadowy realm of secrets and lies, blurring the boundaries of sanity and unleashing terrifying consequences. The search for answers threatens to consume him entirely.

Possession Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags

obsession
dysfunctional marriage
monster
violence
extramarital affair
doppelganger
sex scene
video nasty
husband wife relationship
lust
crazy ex
going berserk

+38 more

germany
private detective
marital separation
west berlin
berlin wall
depression
sexual hysteria
domestic violence
surrealism
self mutilation
psychotronic film
supernatural power
hysterical woman
male pubic hair
male rear nudity
male nudity
male frontal nudity
existentialism
possession
ballet
shot to death
self harm
cheating wife
adultery
unfaithfulness
couple argues
woman
infidelity
severed head
berlin germany
hyperventilation
insanity
murder
car crash
allegory
male full frontal nudity
misogyny
female frontal nudity

Loading streaming availability…

Cast & crew

Possession Cast

Sam Neill leads the cast, with Isabelle Adjani and Margit Carstensen. Directed by Andrzej Zulawski; 10 actors are credited in all.

Director Andrzej Zulawski

Also Starring in Possession

· 6 more

From the director

Possession Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Possession 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb

7.3 /10
See on IMDb
Metacritic

75 Metascore

User score 7.8
See on Metacritic

Plot

Possession Plot Summary

What happens in Possession from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Mark is a spy who returns to West Berlin after a shadowy espionage mission, only to discover that his wife, Anna, is seeking a divorce. She refuses to disclose her reasons, firmly asserting it has nothing to do with another man. In a state of despair, Mark concedes to relinquish the apartment and custody of their young son, Bob, to her. After a self-destructive binge, he visits the apartment, finding Bob neglected and alone. When Anna comes home, Mark remains with Bob, unwilling to leave them alone together, as he tries to mend their fractured relationship. However, Anna abruptly leaves in the middle of the night.

Full summary

The whole story of Possession, scene by scene

Read the full summary