Possession
1981 · Movie · NR · 124 min · ★ 7.3 · 81% critics
After a woman abruptly leaves her family, her husband becomes obsessed with uncovering why and begins following her. What starts as suspicion of an affair spirals into paranoia, volatile confrontations, and increasingly bizarre incidents that blur the line between relationship breakdown and something far more unsettling.
Also known as The Night the Screaming Stops
Where to watch
Streaming on AMC+, Shudder and Kino Film Collection.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1981
- Release date
- 1981-05-27
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Critic score
- 81/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (1,329 votes)
- Box office
- $1,158,473
- Budget
- $2,400,000
About
If you’re into intense, surreal horror that doubles as a raw breakup nightmare, this could hit hard, especially if you like Eraserhead or Inland Empire; Not for you if you want clear answers, restraint, or a calm pace.
Pros: intense performances; unpredictable horror-drama mix; unsettling, intelligent themes | Cons: relentless chaos; confusing, vague story; over-the-top acting
Themes
- adultery
- berlin, germany
- monster
- police
- marriage crisis
- germany
- berlin wall
- obsession
- investigation
- gore
- hysteria
- teacher
- +21 more
Awards & recognition
- César Award — Best Actress · 1982 · nominated
Cast & crew
Isabelle Adjani
as Anna / Helen
Sam Neill
as Mark
Margit Carstensen
as Margit Gluckmeister
Heinz Bennent
as Heinrich
Johanna Hofer
as Heinrich's Mother
Carl Duering
as Private Detective
Shaun Lawton
as Zimmermann
- MH
Michael Hogben
as Bob
- MR
Maximilian Rüthlein
as Man with Pink Socks
- TF
Thomas Frey
as Pink Sock's Acolyte
Directed by Andrzej Żuławski