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The Japanese media landscape is flush with inspired content. With swathes of entertainment mediums to be heralded, one genre stands out in terms of variety. Japanese horror is unlike any other horror genre in the world of cinema. Many movies pose surrealist concepts and existential crises, offering distinctive experiences for all audiences. Though Japanese cinema has proved to be a standout among all other forms of media, it's no surprise that a variety of American films host inspiration from such otherworldly tales.

American horror can be somewhat flavorless in some regards. These days, there is a formula that works at the box office, and producers will typically lean towards tried and true narratives to ensure maximum profit. Whether it is a slasher, otherworldly horror or a plain over-the-top monster, stateside horror rarely leaves room for interpretation. WIth that being said, there are a number of American films that have borrowed or even re-imagined Japanese concepts.

Chicago – A film marketing itself as being “based on a true story” doesn’t hold the same teeth it once did. With truly original stories a financial high risk for Hollywood and many films leaning toward being based on a best-selling novel, the genre that is based on a true story or “inspired by true events” has increasingly taken creative liberties.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

Beware, filmgoers. Just a nugget of truth doesn’t amount to a true gold rush. In the case of the new horror film “The Possession,” the only validity to this film’s claim of being based on a true story is that there was indeed a well-reported dybbuk box (also commonly spelled dibbuk). The story involved real people trying to offload it on eBay once it allegedly haunted them.

Today, most horror films claiming real-life truth aren’t really based on a true story or much of one.

Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the new horror film “The Possession”! The film, which is based on a true story and opens on Aug. 31, 2012, stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan from horror master Sam Raimi!

“The Possession” also stars Kyra Sedgwick, Natasha Calis, Madison Davenport, Grant Show, Agam Darshi, Matisyahu, Quinn Lord, Rob Labelle, Erin Simms, John Cassini, Amanda Dyar, Nana Gbewonyo, Jim Thorburn and Anna Hagan from director Ole Bornedal and writers Juliet Snowden and Stiles White. The film is produced by horror master Sam Raimi (director of the “Spider-Man” franchise).

To win your free advance-screening passes to “The Possession” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago.