The Possession

The Possession
Theatrical release poster
Directed byOle Bornedal
Written by
Based on"A Jinx in a Box?"
by Leslie Gornstein
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDan Laustsen
Edited by
  • Eric L. Beason
  • Anders Villadsen
Music byAnton Sanko
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release dates
  • August 30, 2012 (2012-08-30) (Hong Kong & Macau)
  • August 31, 2012 (2012-08-31) (United States)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14 million[1]
Box office$82.9 million[2]

The Possession is a 2012 American supernatural horror film directed by Ole Bornedal, written by Juliet Snowden and Stiles White, and produced by Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and J. R. Young. It stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra Sedgwick, Natasha Calis, Grant Show, Madison Davenport, and Matisyahu. The story, based on the 2004 Los Angeles Times article "A Jinx in a Box?" by Leslie Gornstein, is about the allegedly haunted dybbuk box.[3]

The film was shot in 2011. Parts of the film were filmed at a former mental institution, Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Bornedal cited films such as The Exorcist as an inspiration, praising their subtlety.[4]

It was released in the United States on August 31, 2012, with the film premiering at the Film4 FrightFest and received mixed-to-negative reviews from film critics, while audience reception has been positive.[5]

  1. ^ Kaufman, Amy (30 August 2012). "'The Possession' will scare off competition over slow Labor Day". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  2. ^ "The Possession (2012) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
  3. ^ "EXCL: Director & Cast Talk to Us About The Possession". Shock Till You Drop.
  4. ^ "(San Diego Comic-Con '12) 'The Possession' Director Ole Bornedal On Combining His Own Voice With The Ghosthouse Aesthetic". Bloody Disgusting. 15 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Film4 FrightFest unveils horror-filled lineup: 'Possession,' 'Chained,' 'Sinister' among screeners". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013.