The Possession

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The Possession

PG-13

2012

1h 31m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

97 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When their youngest daughter, Em (Natasha Calis), becomes strangely obsessed with an antique wooden box bought from a yard sale, parents Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm. However, Em becomes increasingly unstable, leading the couple to fear the presence of a malevolent force. To their horror, Clyde and Stephanie learn that the box contains a dybbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits -- and ultimately devours -- a human host.

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Critics Consensus

It may be based on a true story, but that doesn't excuse the way The Possession repeatedly falls back on hoary ghost movie clichés -- or the uninentional laughs it provides.

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J. Hoberman

Tablet

Aug 16, 2017

By objectifying Jews as exotic others rather than presenting them as subjects, the Raimi production eliminates the precise element that would have been most powerful for a Jewish audience.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Sep 7, 2012

This effective little creeper is the only Judaic pastiche of The Exorcist you're likely to see this year. That alone gives it a jump on the umpteen other evil/possessed-child films that have become a seemingly monthly genre staple of late.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Sep 6, 2012

Director Ole Bornedal doesn't add a single idea of his own.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 22, 2023

3/5

Just barely manages to set itself apart from the generic possession subgenre, though only barely.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Oct 3, 2022

1/4

A PG-13-rated chiller that starts out spooky enough but gradually turns toward the cliché and silly.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 20, 2020

2.5/4.0

The film emphasizes mood and atmosphere over actual chills and thrills.

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TWMax65 T

@RT38199094 5 days ago

I think this movie is just about good enough. Not the best horror movie and it has one kind of silly part that’s a continuity issue (i.e. the mom’s new boyfriend getting really messed up from the curse outside and disappearing completely and her not following up on that or having any questions about it). Other than that small thing though, I bought into the plot and there were some genuinely tense and scary sequences! I was intrigued and interested the entire time and the movie actually made me care about the family and the characters, plus the religious guy who ended up helping them! Every character I could genuinely empathize with! Plus, I thought it had a good ending that wrapped it up quite well.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 13, 2026

The Possession = a *2.5* star Movie!

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B P

@Bradster69 Sep 3, 2026

Not Bad, but Not My Favorite

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Tygari D

@RT50516022 Aug 6, 2026

This is a good film. It focuses on Jewish mythology, which is a nice twist on all the Catholic mythology possession movies. It has a good story, good scare factor, and good acting. The only poor note is that the special effects aren't anything impressive. If you wish to see a good take on the possession horror genre, you can't go wrong with The Possession.

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PoMpI_2304 T

@Pompi_2304 Aug 2, 2026

One of the best horror.. people hate this film because they are JEWS!!!

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Carrington S

@RT97516098 Jul 4, 2026

The film was amazing loved it a lot

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Ole Bornedal

Director

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Clyde

Kyra Sedgwick

Stephanie

Natasha Calis

Em

Madison Davenport

Hannah

Grant Show

Brett

The Possession: Official Clip - Jewish Exorcism

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The Possession: Official Clip - The Demon Within

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The Possession: Official Clip - Em's Not Here!

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The Possession: Official Clip - Who Are You?

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The Possession: Official Clip - Fork You!

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The Possession: Official Clip - The Power of the Box

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The Possession: Official Clip - Hand to Mouth

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The Possession: Official Clip - Moths

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The Possession: Official Clip - Demonic Expulsion

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The Possession: Official Clip - Toothless

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Critics Consensus: Lawless Is Violent and Atmospheric

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Synopsis

When their youngest daughter, Em (Natasha Calis), becomes strangely obsessed with an antique wooden box bought from a yard sale, parents Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm. However, Em becomes increasingly unstable, leading the couple to fear the presence of a malevolent force. To their horror, Clyde and Stephanie learn that the box contains a dybbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits -- and ultimately devours -- a human host.

Director: Ole Bornedal
Producer: Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, J.R. Young
Screenwriter: Juliet Snowden, Stiles White
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Lionsgate Films, Ghost House Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Mature Thematic Material|Disturbing Sequences|Violence)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 31, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.1M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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