This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Both the lead actors have managed to convey through their craft the anguish of wanting to escape the bondage of irrationality that has them on a firm grip, to break free of a place where utter madness thrives that is like a black hole where everything gets sucked in. Infectious madness. Horrific scenes depicted that is both spine-tingling and downright repugnant. Interpreting the film as an allegory of a failed marriage is the nearest thing some can reach as a satisfying explanation to much of the harrowing mess captured on screen. But my take on the symbolism is that it has something to do with Mr. Zulawski opting to protect the innocence of some of the audience who might not yet be able to recognize what those darker subtexts are, cryptic issues that are better left for people with an unshakeable disposition to ponder on. I love the mind-blowing surrealness of the film. But that ultimately drags the film into being just an acquired taste that only belongs to that list of films that have almost reached the peak of horror film brilliance. My rating: A-flat.

This film is brilliantly chilly, with its grey setting only further highlighting the drably seething alienation of the lead characters. Famously branded a video nasty in the UK, it is really an art-house film, from the time when they were more than just polite prestige cinema, about the breakdown of a marriage and all the bile and hatred and monstrousness that comes when loves breaks down. With an oblique ending that feels fascinating rather than impenetrable, Possession is a slice of European mischief with a gooey, splashy centre.

This movie is really something. I remember first seeing a clip from the movie in film school and the class was totally stunned. It wasn't the most infamous scene we saw, it was just an "ordinary" clip from the movie and the acting, the photography, everything really blew us away. This movie is not for people who gets easily offended by gory stuff or screaming actors because its quite much screaming almost through the whole movie. It's sad to see that this movie is not well known as it should be, it's just a very good hidden gem that will be a pleasure to discover but you're at your own risk viewing it because this movie will creep very deep under your skin and stay there. I will give a huge applaud to Zulawskis impeccable directing, Adjani and Neill acting their hearts and souls out (they practically become their characters, it's almost like they stop acting and just become their roles, it's that good!) And the soundtrack that gives the movie that eerie feeling. And of course the great Bruno Nuytten, the cinematography is Immaculate! Stunning, captivating, eerie and plain beautiful! Good to know that this movie is not really a horror film it's more drama, pshycological drama/thriller and it's a very heavy movie so you better get mentally and emotionally prepared to watch it. I get this movie 10+/10, It's really an unknown masterpiece worth checking out!

One of the most deranged, disturbing & devastating works of horror in existence, Possession is an absolutely harrowing portrait of a disintegrating marriage that brims with a sense of discomfort from its opening moments, gets more n more erratic, unnerving & manic as the plot progresses, and is catapulted to a higher level by the downright deranged performances of its cast, that may have been stoned beyond measure throughout its production.Possession tells the story of an international spy who returns from his espionage mission, only to learn that his wife wants a divorce from him. Going ahead with her wish at first, he is unable to stop himself from obsessing about her & keeps returning to her apartment with hopes of reconciliation but every subsequent encounter between the two only results in her exhibiting increasingly disturbing behaviour, following which he hires a private detective to track her whereabouts.Co-written & directed by Andrej Żuławski, this French-German production is as unhinged as it is surreal and features a cleverly structured, deftly layered & skilfully executed premise that stays in hyper mode at all times. An air of uneasiness is evidently felt during its opening segment and the director does well to keep this tense & mysterious ambiance alive for the remainder of its runtime, and even manages to ratchet things up by a few notches with sudden outbursts of unrestrained madness.The script addresses the themes of guilt, shame, infidelity, obsession & sexuality in a metaphorical manner while enigmatically exploring the stressful & traumatic effects of staying in a dysfunctional relationship. Żuławski penned the screenplay in the midst of his own divorce and in many ways, his film is an allegory of it. The story does work when approached as a straightforward supernatural horror but it is more satisfying & rewarding when one is able to read between the lines & discern the context within the content.The technical aspects are expertly carried out and work in tandem to further amplify its disquieting tone n feel. The overcast conditions & cold colour palette assist in establishing a sinister aura that refuses to settle down. The camera keeps its movements smooth & stable to capture the unfolding chaos with crisp clarity, Editing never allows sanity to seep into the picture and keeps the viewers' attention fixed on the screen while its ominous score & eerie sound seamlessly intertwine with one another to further intensify its perturbing mood.Coming to the performances, Possession features an interesting cast mainly comprising of Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill & Heinz Bennent, with Adjani stealing the show with a performance that's arguably her finest. Neill's character appears to be in control of his emotions in the beginning but it doesn't take long before he starts losing his mind, and the actor is able to illustrate that with finesse. Bennent, on the other hand, chips in with an exaggerated & over-the-top input, and hams it up so much that it is difficult to take his character seriously at any given moment.On an overall scale, Andrej Żuławski's Possession is a thrilling meditation on murder, evil, infidelity & madness that still retains every bit of its potency, and is just as effective today as it was during its time of release. There is one scene in the movie where Adjani's character has a violent seizure that highly resembles a demonic possession, and the way this French beauty sells that moment is the reason why it just might be the most haunting & bone-chilling sequence of its kind, at least in my book it is. And that's just one of the many crazy segments this picture has in store. In short, oozing dread from every orifice, this artistic endeavour is a stimulating work of horror and an unsettling exercise in excess that lives up to its legacy. Highly recommended.