Assassins that hijack people's body to commit their murders. Interesting concept, though not revolutionary.

The main character is well portrayed, specially the dissociation that comes from her work, the way she trains when inside a new body, the way she tries to become herself again when back to her own. That's the most interesting aspect of the movie. Following the mission itself, while in the Colin's body is mildly interesting.

The killings are uselessly violent, I guess it serves as a tell sign that something is wrong with her, as she was supposed to do it cleanly and fast, but this aspect is never really developed.

The second part, inside Collin's body [spoiler]after she fails to come back to her own[/spoiler] is less interesting. The I guess the conflict between [spoiler]the two spirits in one body[/spoiler] is the whole point, but it does not really take.

Small role for Sean Bean ([spoiler]he dies[/spoiler]), he's good (obviously). Jennifer Jason Leigh has less of a chance to shine.

Bonus points for [spoiler]taking over the child's body at the end[/spoiler], that's a good idea, however, as we've seen how the technology works, it seems like it would have been unrealistic to do. It seems like a last minute measure and/or a precaution, but that's not how it works. [spoiler]They can kidnap him long enough without the father noticing ? She would also have needed a long adaptation, specially with such a different body. Also it seems it must always end with the host's death, so what was exactly the plan here if it actually went well ? Get her back, and sorry we had to kill your child just to be safe ?[/spoiler]

This whole things is basically an episode of The Outer Limits.

The Cronenberg name is tightly associated with the body horror genre, and rightfully so. 'Possessor' feels like a fever dream, delivering unsettling violence, thought-provoking creativity and remorseless direction. Its revelations about the monsters within, summed up in its shockingly grim climax, have a lasting resonance.
- Jake Watt

Read Jake's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-possessor-engrossingly-gross-cronenbergian-body-horror

I just wrote a review about how mainstream critics don't "get" horror, elevating attempts at filmmaking "art" over the basics that horror fans love. "Possessor" is an exception where critics (72 Metacritic Score) and users (7.6 Metacritic Score) agree that it's a pretty damn good flick.

The acting is excellent. Andrea Riseborough from "Mandy" is creepy odd (again) as a mind-possessing assassin, and Christopher Abbott from "It Comes at Night" is a depressed AND possessed soul for the next assassination.

There are too many adjectives to list to give the film justice, so here's just a few: disturbing, violent, bloody, mind-bending, visual, provocative,

While Brandon Cronenberg may have a similar interest in melding technology and horror as his father David Cronenberg, he is introducing his own style and originality. Very much like like Joe Hill has done with father Stephen King.

All of which is nothing but a bonus for horror fans.

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In a year where the horror genre didn't have that many great representatives, Brandon Cronenberg's remarkably captivating concept is an instant attention-grabber. Boasting two phenomenal performances from Andrea Riseborough and Christopher Abbott (Colin Tate), Possessor is one of the most visually shocking films of 2020.

From the extreme gore to the unrestrained depiction of insanely violent murders, Cronenberg fills his movie with creepy imagery that will definitely trigger many viewers to simply give up. Its slow pace helps establish the never-ending suspenseful atmosphere, which ultimately delivers some of the most intense sequences I've seen in a long time.

Despite the interesting narrative and its eye-opening developments, Possessor fails to keep the momentum going throughout the entire runtime. The weird imagery helps with visual storytelling, but it reaches a point where it becomes too distracting and unnecessary. The third act is also quite predictable, contrasting with the somewhat surprising first half.

In the end, it's still one of my favorite horror films of the year.

Rating: B+