Possum

At first glance "Possum" is the kind of small, independent horror movie that the Brits do very well but which seem to crop up every couple of weeks; movie-making on the cheap that stand or fall on their writer's and director's imagination. Here the writer and director is Matthew Holness and this is his first film. Fundamentally, it's an actor's piece and there's really only two of them in it. Sean Harris is the seemingly crazy pupeteer, (Possum is his puppet, a spider-like thing that he carries around in a bag), and Alun Armstrong his possibly just-as-crazy uncle and the setting is a terrace house on the wrong side of derelict and some not very hospitable marshes.

This is the kind of thing that Samuel Beckett might have written and once upon a time it could have been a play on television. Of course, the idea of a puppet with a life of its own is nothing new and has been a staple of horror movies certainly as far back as "Dead of Night" but seldom, if ever, has it been done like this and never, to my knowledge, with a spider, albeit one with something resembling a human head. That it is genuinely disturbing is down in no small measure to Holness' direction, the utterly brilliant performances of Harris and Armstrong and a terrifically discordant score by The Radiophonic Workshop and being something of an arachnophobe myself I am sure it will give me nightmares. It may not burn up the multiplexes on a Saturday night but it's definitely the kind of edgy and intelligent cinema we should cherish.

I really don't understand how this film only has a 5.6 rating on here. Are we really that desperate to get baited with a jumpscare that a good film like this will simply get overlooked and criticized for simply building up suspense?

Anyways, while the movie may tend to get a bit tedious towards the midpoint, it does tend to feed you just enough information to keep you intrigued until the last half hour, which is absolutely exceptional and possibly the most scared I've ever been watching a horror. However, that does not change that fact that if you miss a tidbit of info, you may become lost and therefore uninvested in the film from there. Sean Harris and Alun Armstrong both do exceptional jobs in their roles in this film; their performances alone are worth seeing this film. The puppet or "Possum" is pure nightmare fuel, and some of the practical affects of this film are really quite convincing in making it seem alive. The soundtrack by the Radiophonic Workshop in this film is unbelievable, and I don't think this movie would be able to succeed without it.

There's also countless metaphors throughout the movie, several shots that pay homage to movies such as Trainspotting, and an absolutely shocking ending. However, it's probably best that there are no spoilers on this review, and instead recommend that you see this film yourself. If you're into horror movies with a large level of suspense throughout, without relying on the easy satisfaction of jumpscares, this film should definitely be next on your list.

Found this little gem on Halloween and glad I did. Even though it's not a typical horror persae I would lump it in with Babadook. However I found this movie had more weight than Babadook. Possum is emotionally and psychologically heavy and even though it's a slow burner (some may tire easy) it does hold your attention with very few actors. The film is very atmospheric and does not rely on jump scares but paints a very sad picture indeed. Bleak and sinister af the end made me feel sick, worth a watch.

Possum is a (very) slight yarn about shamed puppeteer Richie (Sean Harris) returning to the decaying home of his childhood. Richie spends his days wandering an undisclosed part of Norfolk ( population 10?) to the accompaniment of a Radiophonic Workshop soundtrack. There's a child abduction case lurking in the shadows too. Could Richie be involved, and what is that ghastly apparition nesting in the bowels of his bag? Yeah, on paper, this one sounded like it'd be right up my street. So its with heavy heart I regret to inform you that Holness' debut in the writer/director chair is a major disappointment.

Based on a self-penned short story (and showing every inch of it) Holness' painfully derivative Lynchian pseudo art-horror would have been rightly rejected before a frame had been shot had his name not been attached to it. However, it's less Eraserhead and more Frank Henenlotter's Basketcase gatecrashing David Cronenberg's Spider without the wit & intrigue of any of them. Surprise & suspense evaporate within the first 20 minutes and it spends the rest of its time hitting the same dull beat until the non-too-shocking anti-climactic reveal.

I do appreciate the repetitive nature of the narrative is intentional and is absolutely fundamental to the vivid picture it attempts to paint of a nightmare in a damaged brain. But the lack of variation in tone and design (not to mention locations) make for a very ugly and oppressive viewing experience, and not in the way it's creator would hope.

The performances are unconvincing too: Alun Armstrong as Richie's seedy Uncle Maurice, devours the scenery amateur-dramatics Bill Sykes style, whilst Harris (an actor I've irrationally had it in for since his rancid space-crusty turn in Prometheus) goes full method with one-note, misery-guts mug and mannered mannequin body contortions. And true to Lynch-clone fashion, he does it decked out in a gormless-looking, buttoned to the neck grey shirt.

Its ironic then that, the only positive thing to say about him (and Possum as a whole) is the major contribution he makes to the creepy-crawly thing you can see on the poster. The arachnid is sublime, and the only thing you'll remember long after you've forgotten the film.

This is definitely an audience splitter, since the material itself is very dark and not so frequent on entertaining scenes. When that is said, the movie is very interesting and has a great atmosphere overall.

The main character played by Sean Harris, is a career turning point for the actor, as it is above everything else he has done before! it's emotional and gripping till the very end.

When the movie ends, everything comes together and all the plot points from before suddenly makes sense. Some of the scenes building up in the beginning, can feel a bit tiresome because of the slow tempo and the long unbroken cuts. Some of the scenes might feel a bit irrelevant, although not lesser interesting because of that.

A very solid produced film, with great performances and a very nerving atmosphere that haunts you long after the movie ends.