Possessor (2020) - Brandon Cronenberg

[Bence Fekete]

From the visionary sperm of David Cronenberg...

New sci-fi/horror directed by David Cronenberg's son, Brandon.

It's very Cronenbergy, it's very lots of other things, but it's also very good. I want to talk more but it's one of those 'less you know' type affairs plot-wise so I'll just honk the awareness horn and wait. Highly recommended. Avoid trailer and spoilers if you can. 

[QDRPHNC]

Thanks for the RECK I'll watch it this weekend.

[Shaky]

I liked this although found it a bit style over substance in the end. Some pleasantly... unpleasant moments, though. The

Spoiler alert

murder of Sean Bean's character got a huge yelp out of me.

[close]

[Sebastian Cobb]

Shoved this to download today as it happens, after rewatching Antiviral the other week.

[El Unicornio, mang]

I've watched The Fly and Videodrome this past week as part of my Halloween month viewing, this should fit the bill. Lead actress grew up in the same town (Whitley Bay) as me, I noticed. Presumably doesn't still have the accent...

[zomgmouse]

Is it available in a copy that isn't a screener?

[Sebastian Cobb]

Is it available in a copy that isn't a screener?

I got a YTS 'webrip' instead of the screeners.

[zomgmouse]

I got a YTS 'webrip' instead of the screeners.

Looking on there, the screenshots suggest it's still got the "property of" watermarks - unless they're not there in the actual file?

[Bad Ambassador]

It's due for UK release in a month or so.

[Sebastian Cobb]

Looking on there, the screenshots suggest it's still got the "property of" watermarks - unless they're not there in the actual file?

I've not looked at it yet tbh. Just that it wasn't tagged as a  scr.

[zomgmouse]

Hmm some of the comments on the entry suggest it is indeed a screener. Ah well. Guess I'll just wait for the proper copy. Think the only time I've watched a screener (that wasn't for review purposes) was Uncut Gems as I just could not wait for that. But I try to avoid it.

[zomgmouse]

Alrighty so the "proper" (and apparently "uncut") version of this is available online. Watched it yesterday night. Brilliant stuff. I think I prefer Antiviral, but this was fantastic. Excellent visuals and ideas, played out with a fine sense of rhythm and unfurling. Wholly impressive.

[phantom_power]

There is a lot of stabbing. And repeated stabbing. And repeats of stabbing. And penises

[thugler]

There is a lot of stabbing. And repeated stabbing. And repeats of stabbing. And penises

Bit too much i would say. Overdid it with the gruesome at times. Visually very strong though

[BlodwynPig]

I've watched The Fly and Videodrome this past week as part of my Halloween month viewing, this should fit the bill. Lead actress grew up in the same town (Whitley Bay) as me, I noticed. Presumably doesn't still have the accent...

Andrea Risborough?

Did you go to the arcades in Spanish City?

[McFlymo]

Just a bump to say I genuinely loved this, it was deeply, deeply fucked up in unrelenting and heroic ways. Bleakness mixed with all out gore. Andrea Riseborough was amazingly creepy and unnerving to watch and Christopher Abbott was brilliant juggling different states of mental collapse. It reminded me of Under The Skin a little bit, in terms of the mix of supernatural and reality. Loved the details of the sound design: so much going on in the near silent moments, the score was excellent too.

Spoiler alert

The Sean Bean killing get me yelping and recoiling in horror too. I can't remember the last time that's happened.

[close]

Also: Are boners / semi-erect penises an acceptable thing now?

[Mister Six]

Really enjoyed the film, and particularly its commentary on the atomised, insular and dehumanising life in a modern technocracy (although that did make it feel a bit like a premium Black Mirror episode).

I really think it needed another 10 minutes on the front showing Riseborough's relationship with her husband prior to becoming an assassin. We're basically getting the last two thirds of her character arc, and that really drains the emotional impact of the ending out of it. You can extrapolate what her relationship and personality used to be like, but it's an intellectual engagement, not an emotional one. Brooker would have sold us on the relationship with some humour first, then got his grim on.

Definitely want to check out Antiviral too, now.

[El Unicornio, mang]

Andrea Risborough?

Did you go to the arcades in Spanish City?

Many times! My mate's Dad owned one of them so I got a day of free Double Dragon once. Also frequented the ones closer to Tynemouth which "mysteriously" burned down.

Might watch this tonight, sounds like my cup of tea.

[McFlymo]

I really think it needed another 10 minutes on the front showing Riseborough's relationship with her husband prior to becoming an assassin. We're basically getting the last two thirds of her character arc, and that really drains the emotional impact of the ending out of it. You can extrapolate what her relationship and personality used to be like, but it's an intellectual engagement, not an emotional one. Brooker would have sold us on the relationship with some humour first, then got his grim on.

Definitely want to check out Antiviral too, now.

Good point.

Spoiler alert

The scene with her preparing how she would say "hello" to her husband and kid seemed odd. Seemed to setup that it was going to be much more of a mental struggle for her than it ended up being. If there'd been more done with that struggle the ending would've paid off much more.

[close]

Started watching Antiviral last night, fell asleep, so gonna tackle it now, but first impressions:
a lot cheaper looking,

a lot less impressively acted,

not sure I get the concept / seems a bit thin

whole thing feels a bit amateur

[zomgmouse]

Good point.

Spoiler alert

The scene with her preparing how she would say "hello" to her husband and kid seemed odd. Seemed to setup that it was going to be much more of a mental struggle for her than it ended up being. If there'd been more done with that struggle the ending would've paid off much more.

[close]

I actually quite liked that it threw you straight in. It really sets everything up that you need.

[Mister Six]

Everything you need for the story. I don't think it lays enough emotional groundwork. The ending had me thinking "fucking hell", but in a detached way - more like I didn't expect the film to go there, rather than the absolute horror at what had been done to these people, and the toll it had taken on Riseborough's soul. The butterfly thing works in a mechanical way, not an emotional one. For me, at least.