Possessor (2020)
Genre: Sci-Fi / Horror / Thriller
Directed by: Brandon Cronenberg
Possessor is a mind-bending, visceral sci-fi horror film directed by Brandon Cronenberg, son of body-horror maestro David Cronenberg. Staying true to his lineage, Brandon crafts a haunting exploration of identity, control, and violence, blending psychological horror with sleek, dystopian science fiction.
The story follows Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an elite corporate assassin who uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies and carry out high-profile hits. As she takes over the lives of her hosts, Vos begins to lose her grip on her own identity, blurring the lines between self and other. Her latest assignment, involving a man named Colin Tate (Christopher Abbott), becomes a nightmarish struggle for control as Tate’s consciousness fights back, threatening to consume her.
Andrea Riseborough delivers a chilling performance as the emotionally detached yet deeply fractured Vos, portraying a woman whose constant shifting of identities has left her alienated from her own humanity. Christopher Abbott is equally compelling, especially as the lines blur and he embodies both himself and Vos’s intrusive presence, creating a tense and disturbing duality.
Visually, Possessor is stunning and brutal. Brandon Cronenberg’s use of surreal, dreamlike imagery and practical gore effects results in a visceral viewing experience. The violence is graphic and unflinching, but always serves the story’s psychological depth, emphasizing the dehumanizing consequences of technology and corporate greed.
The film’s cold, clinical aesthetic is complemented by an eerie electronic score, enhancing the unsettling atmosphere. The cinematography captures both the sterile environments of the corporate world and the grotesque, mind-warping sequences of identity dissolution with precision and artistry.
Beyond its sci-fi thriller facade, Possessor is a meditation on the loss of self in a hyper-connected, technology-driven world. It questions how much of our identity is tied to our memories, bodies, and personal choices, and what happens when those elements are manipulated or stripped away.
While Possessor is not for the faint-hearted, with its graphic violence and slow-burning psychological intensity, it has been lauded by critics and sci-fi horror fans alike for its originality, boldness, and thematic depth. It’s a modern cult classic in the making, cementing Brandon Cronenberg as a visionary director in his own right.
In essence, Possessor is a disturbing yet mesmerizing exploration of identity, control, and the dark side of technology—a must-watch for fans of cerebral, unsettling science fiction.
