Possum (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Possum is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Matthew Holness, starring Sean Harris as Philip, Pamela Cook and Alun Armstrong. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes and earned $33,225 worldwide. Critics gave it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 25m (85 min)
- Director
- Matthew Holness
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Dark Sky Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Possum About?
The premise of Possum without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A troubled puppeteer named Philip is forced to confront his cruel stepfather and the dark secrets he's carried throughout his life. As he grapples with his past, he must also contend with Possum, an unsettling marionette he transports in a box. Philip’s attempts to escape the influence of Possum prove to be increasingly difficult, forcing him to face buried traumas and unsettling truths about himself.
Possum Themes & Keywords
· 12 tags- psychological horror
- puppet
- hallucination
- surrealism
- abuse
- spider
- missing child
- puppeteer
- insanity
- body horror
- covered with blood
- missing
Possum Cast & Characters
Sean Harris leads the cast as Philip, with Pamela Cook as Mother with Push Chair and Alun Armstrong as Maurice. Directed by Matthew Holness; 9 actors are credited in all.
- Director Matthew Holness
-
Sean Harris as Philip - Pamela Cook as Mother with Push Chair
-
Alun Armstrong as Maurice - Charlie Eales as Michael
Also Starring in Possum
· 5 more- Raphel Famotibe Simon
- Simon Bubb Mr. Evans
- Andy Blithe Michael's Father
- Joe Gallucci Lee
- Ryan Enever Michael's Uncle
More from Matthew Holness
One more film directed by Matthew Holness: The Snipist.
Possum Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Possum 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in story & flow (45).
Possum Echo Score Breakdown
Possum delivers an unsettling atmosphere and standout visual design but is hindered by uneven pacing and an underdeveloped narrative. The film’s art direction and cinematography consistently evoke a grim sense of decay, while the central performance of Sean Harris imbues the story with emotional weight. However, the slow-burn structure and anticlimactic resolution undermine narrative engagement for many viewers. As a result, the overall impression is of a uniquely disturbing psychological horror that impresses in craft but falters in its story execution.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of art and craft, Possum excels in its production design and cinematography. The film’s use of decayed environments and stark framing creates a pervasive sense of wrongness. Directional choices favor lingering shots that highlight abandoned spaces and unsettling textures. The measured visual style establishes a coherent aesthetic. Overall, the film’s art direction remains one of its most compelling features.
- Character & Emotion 85
When it comes to character and emotion, Sean Harris delivers a compelling central performance. His restrained physicality and muted expressions convey deep psychological turmoil. Supporting actors are largely underutilized, resulting in occasional flatness in emotional development. On balance, the lead portrayal anchors the film’s affective core, even as secondary roles offer limited resonance.
- Story & Flow 45
In terms of story and flow, Possum adopts a slow-burn structure that many find uneven. Pacing issues are evident in repetitive, dreamlike sequences that lack clear narrative progression. Critics and viewers note an anticlimactic ending and underdeveloped screenplay elements. Despite moments of originality, the plot’s coherence and engagement suffer. Overall, the story unfolds with intriguing ideas but limited payoff.
- Sensory Experience 85
When it comes to sensory experience, the film achieves a haunting and immersive atmosphere. The sound design and unsettling score heighten tension, while the restrained soundtrack underscores moments of dread. Visual style incorporates gritty textures and stark lighting to reinforce the psychological tone. Together, these elements cohere into an eerie perception that lingers. Overall, the sensory design is a standout aspect.
- Rewatch Factor 65
When it comes to rewatch factor, Possum offers a mixed experience. Some viewers appreciate its lingering imagery and thematic ambiguity on subsequent viewings, finding new symbolic layers. Others cite pacing hurdles and narrative opacity that can diminish repeated enjoyment. The film’s strong visual motifs invite reconsideration, but uneven story engagement may limit its replay appeal. Ultimately, rewatch value remains moderate.
-
IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 88% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 55%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 64 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.2 /5
640 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Possum Plot Summary
What happens in Possum from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Philip Connell, Sean Harris, is a disgraced children’s puppeteer who is compelled to return to his childhood home in Norfolk. The once-family house, scarred by a long-ago blaze, sits in a state of disrepair and is now shared with his decrepit uncle Maurice, Alun Armstrong. The atmosphere is tense from the moment he steps inside, a quiet of abandonment that gnaws at him as much as any memory.
Full summary
The whole story of Possum, scene by scene
Possum Box Office
Possum grossed $33,225 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$33.2K
- International
- $33.2K
Possum Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Possum.
How Well Do You Know Possum?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the main protagonist who returns to his childhood home in Norfolk?
Cars in Possum
2 cars on screen: the 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier MkIII and the 1980 Ford Cortina Estate MkV.
-
1994 Vauxhall Cavalier MkIII Minor role -
1980 Ford Cortina Estate MkV Background role
Possum Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Ölü Taklidi” and “Опоссум”.
- Also known as
-
- Ölü Taklidi
- Опоссум
- Опосум
- 负鼠
- صاریغ
- Oposszum
- 포썸: 죽음을 부르는 기억
Seen Possum?
Movies Like Possum
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Possum, Puppetmaster and The Puppet.
Possum FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Possum, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Possum?
Possum runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).
When was Possum released?
Possum was released on November 2, 2018.
Who directed Possum?
Possum was directed by Matthew Holness.
More films by Matthew Holness Who is in the cast of Possum?
Possum stars Sean Harris as Philip, Pamela Cook as Mother with Push Chair and Alun Armstrong as Maurice, among 9 credited actors.
How much did Possum make at the box office?
Possum grossed $33,225 worldwide.
How is Possum rated?
Possum has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Does Possum have a post-credit scene?
No. Possum has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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