I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Possession-type movies were quite popular in the 1970s thanks to "The Exorcist". In this TV-movie, clothing, papers, and people are bursting into flames at a girls' boarding school, so it's ex-priest Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) to the rescue. He tangles with the school's administrators, including the evil Louise Gelson (Joan Hackett). Although not unexpected, the nail-spitting/vomit/immolation sequence is quite a bravura finale. The movie's conclusion is a little muddled, apparently purposely so. Fine actresses Ann Dusenberry and Claudette Nevins also star.First broadcast in May 1977, this film also starred fourth-billed Harrison Ford, in his final role before becoming a worldwide superstar thanks to his appearance in "Star Wars" a few weeks later. He plays a handsome biology teacher who unfortunately finds himself locked in a room and on fire. Ford's brief appearance is a little disappointing, but how could the filmmakers have known he'd be incredibly famous in just a couple of weeks? This TV-movie is an interesting time-filler, but you've seen it all before. Try to catch it for a brief glimpse of young and pre-stardom Harrison Ford.

Wow. I've been searching for this movie for decades, now. I tried searching all the keywords and possible titles, and was not able to find it until I asked for help on the IMDb community boards, and I'm so glad to have found it again! I will never forget the way she looked at the end... her skin, and eyes, and the way her lips were so severely chapped and raw... and then she spews nails at the guy, and he grabs her and falls or jumps into the pool and they are enveloped and consumed by the erupting fire! I was definitely freaked out. This movie made such a huge impact on me, I don't think I'll ever forget it... Not that scene anyway!!

"The Possessed" isn't that bad but does have some problems.**SPOILERS**After narrowly avoiding death, Minister Kevin Leahy, (James Farentino) is assigned to fight evil in all it's forms. The students at the Helen Page Girls School, all ready to graduate in a short manner of time, soon start experiencing weird phenomena, as all sorts of objects on campus start bursting into flame for no reason. After meeting Leahy, Ellen Sumner, (Claudette Nevins) a teacher at the school decides to take over the investigation. Questioning staff members Mrs. Louise Gelson, (Joan Hackett) and Paul Winjam, (Harrison Ford) for possible explanations, he comes up empty but the strange events continue. Finally discovering that a source of evil rather than student Weezie, (Ann Dusenberry) that is causing the fires, the remaining students race to stop it from spreading through the school while he deals with his own demons from the past.The Good News: This one wasn't that bad and had some great moments. The film's at it's best when it goes for the shock moments, and these are mainly the sudden fire-spouts. They come out of nowhere and show no consistency, neither in source or intensity. From having a paper catch fire inside a typewriter, which itself is a marvelously spooky concept, to having a dorm room, then a pant's leg and soon afterward, human targets themselves, spontaneously combust out of nowhere and really manage to get some effective shocks out them. The first human target is the biggest example, as the site of the person going up in flames and the placement of where we see it starting from is a great idea and really one of the better ideas yet. The finale is one of it's highlights, as the culmination of a possessed victim and the need for an exorcism come into play, which is quite new and comes out of nowhere, allow it really let fly with the horror conventions, including the hurling of numerous foreign objects that aren't really seen before, giving them a real sense of this trying new things. The objects used during the possession are regular items expected during this kind of scene, and they make it all the more memorable. Combine that with one of the most extensive fire stunts possible and it just becomes all the more creative. It's a really unique vision and comes across spectacularly. The film's other big improvement is that it successfully manages to throw the red herring into the mix as for what the explanation is. While there's tons of speculation offered and some evidence, it's never accepted as a reason and never really brought up, though this is done in a great way. It's hinted at and offered evidence for, but isn't in any way conclusive and really does seem possible. That's a great compliment and works well for the film.The Bad News: There's a few problems with this one. One of the biggest ones is that this one here has no real explanation for what's going on. Nothing is uttered about why the events are going on at the school, and this is even pointed out by the characters themselves. For all the time spent investigating and looking for clues, this one doesn't even put one explanation out there as a possible reason. That there's not even a possible one offered is a little confusing, since this could've been all the creepier had something been offered for what was causing it. Another really big flaw is the constant scenes of investigation or of the girls in their dorm doing nothing. These simply stretch the film out far longer than it should be and makes them seem like padding. While it's necessary for the introduction to take place, putting it into the middle of the film just makes it seem a little unnecessary and way too much like time was being taken up, not a great move for a film. The last big problem stems from it's feel, as there's an obvious touch to make this a real omnipresent danger around the film, yet it just comes across as a series of isolated incidents without much behind them. It's a great idea, but there's a sense that it's building to a huge payoff and the one received is acceptable, but not as grand as it was building to. This is what hurts the film the most.The Final Verdict: While there's some good stuff here, there's some nagging problems that do hold this one back. Give it a try if it's something potentially interesting, but those expecting a big supernatural thriller like the time-period will be disappointed.Rated UN/R: Violence and some Language

Along with Gargoyles, Trilogy of Terror & Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, this movie scared the crap out of me when I was a kid. The premise, though somewhat formulaic, is still quite effective in this flick. The possession scenes are great, with a particular "hell yea!" during the nail spitting sequence! THAT freaked me out. Poor Harrison Ford hides from this film like it's leprosy or something. I dunno why...it beats "The Devil's Own" ANY day!!!J Richter