The Possessed

James Farentino plays boozy Father Kevin Leahy. He dies during a car crash, but is given his life back to fight evil. All of this is shown before the credits even roll. Farentino is quite good in this somewhat intense role and carries the film. At the Helen Page All-Girls School unexplained fires start happening, so Leahy is brought in to investigate.

I think the biggest problem I had with this 1977 TV Movie originally shown on NBC was what it wanted to be. It obviously was inspired by William Friedkin's THE EXORCIST, but half the time it just plays itself out like a cheap knock-off. Also becomes dialogue heavy and by the end of the movie the possession angle is pretty hokey. Which is too bad, because I did enjoy Farentino's performance.

Also starring Diana Scarwid, Dinah Manoff, P.J. Soles (as students at the all-girls school) and a pre-STAR WARS Harrison Ford who plays a nutty, creepy teacher Paul Winjam. Was very interesting seeing an early film role for Ford, but at the same time it wasn't exactly a very memorable role.

In 2023 the kitschy opening scene comes off more like the origin of a supervillain rather than of the hero the man is obviously supposed to be. Kindly setting that aside, this made-for-TV horror movie progresses with much the same tenor as most of its kin, with a lot of conversation, straightforward dramatic airs, and investigation flavored with only touches of abnormal goings-on for much of the length. Those abnormalities do escalate, in fairness, and there's a nice twist to come when we're about three-quarters of an hour through. Then again, is it actually a twist if the script strangely doesn't do anything with it? I don't think it's so simple as to say that 'The possessed' is just altogether bad; I see what it did well, and there are worse ways to spend one's time. There's also a great deal that it does poorly, however, and sadly I just don't think it's very good.

Past that revelation with which the script does nothing, we climb into the home stretch of these seventy-six minutes and have to wonder if the chief abnormality of the whole production hasn't actually been the writing all along. Substantial portions of the dialogue and scene writing are pretty much just senseless; elsewhere they're vague, or scattered; at other times a moment comes across as overly direct. All this applies equally to the direction, and the actors can only try to make the most of it all with their best earnest effort. The acting comes off better at some points more than others, yet unfortunately I don't think there's any point weaker than the climax. Joan Hackett seems to be having fun, at least, but my reaction swiftly went from "hey, she's really leaning into it" to laughing at how over the top it was. That climax is also written and shot so sloppily that it's almost incohesive, and the resolution thereof - while marked by a neat effect - feels so much like John Sacret Young just shoving his typewriter off the desk and exclaiming "done" without actually finding a real solution.

In that climax, by the way, we also see how while the makeup artists did fine work, they were apparently instructed to piggyback off of 'The exorcist.' This dovetails neatly into how Leonard Rosenman's score hovers between conventional TV thriller music, and borrowing from Jerry Goldsmith's timeless compositions for 'The omen.' I do actually like the effects here, and I think there was strong potential in the concept, and in some of the story threads. However, though Leahy seems to be posited as a figure of momentous import, the script does nothing meaningful with him. The reveal of the antagonist comes from out of nowhere; the moments preceding the climactic showdown portend something bigger and more wicked afoot, but the screenplay just can't be bothered to explore any such possibilities. 'The possessed' is a picture that relies on the big beats of the narrative to carry the day, trusting that it will be enough, but the writing is ultimately so simplistic in that regard, and otherwise extremely variable in its quality, that the whole can never capture a spark of vitality.

To each their own. Other folks will watch this and just think it's a good time. I want to like it more than I do, honestly, in recognition of the hard work that went into it. Yet the issue is that the value it can claim is outweighed far too much by its faults and shortcomings, and what entertainment the feature can offer is saddled with observation of one foible after another. Yes, there are worse ways to spend your time, but with so many other things to enjoy instead, there's little reason to direct our attention here. 'The possessed' isn't outright awful, but in the very least it needed much more careful, thoughtful, and focused writing and direction to succeed, and the finished film as we see it is all too lacking.

In THE POSSESSED, Father Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) is killed in a car crash, only to be judged to have fallen from grace. Returned to life, he must seek out and fight eeevil.

Meanwhile, at the Helen Page private girl's school, in addition to the usual end of the year hijinks, strange things begin happening. Spontaneous, near-fatal fires break out.

Friends Weezie and Lane (Ann Dusenberry and Diana Scarwid) have only three weeks to go before graduation. Lane's mother, Ellen (Claudette Nevins) has taught at the school for years. Burned in one of the fires herself, Ellen fears that dark forces are at work. Willing to try anything, Ellen is referred to Leahy. Can he discover the source of the problem, before someone else is hurt or even killed?

As made-for-TV horror films go, this is one of the better ones dealing with the paranormal / supernatural. The story is interesting, using fire as a metaphor for jealous rage, which is what seems to have allowed the demonic presence to flourish. The characters are strong and the pool-side finale is magnificent! Farentino is quite believable in his rather dour role.

Co-stars Joan Hackett as headmistress, Louise Gelson, and Harrison Ford as biology teacher, Paul Winjam. Ford has one of the best, grimmest scenes in the movie! Watch for P.J. Soles in a tiny role...

The Possessed (1977)

*** (out of 4)

Father Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) is in an automobile accident when he is pronounced dead on the scene. In the limbo he hears a voice telling him to return to life and seek out the Evil in the world. Soon afterwards he ends up at a girl's boarding school in Salen, Oregon where mysterious fires have been breaking out. The head mistress (Joan Hackett), her sister (Claudette Nevins) and her younger daughter (Ann Dusenberry) all seem to have some sort of connection.

THE POSSESSED is without question one of the better made-for-television horror movies ever made. It's kind of funny that Warner now handles the release of the picture since it was released the same year as their disastrous EXORCIST II. There's no question that this movie was probably inspired by THE EXORCIST but everything wrong with that film's sequel is certainly improved on here. There's no doubt that I went into the movie not sure what to expect but I walked away with an extremely good film that manages to feature great performances and a pretty good story.

The performances are certainly a major plus because there's quite a bit of character development here. Farentino is wonderful as the Father who finds himself trying to figure out exactly why he was brought back to life and who is behind these Satanic fires. Nevins is also excellent in her role as the mother and Dusenberry is also good. The supporting cast includes Dinah Manoff, P.J. Soles and Diana Scarwid. The biggest name is Harrison Ford who is excellent in a small role as a professor. The film also benefits from some nice cinematography and an extremely effective music score.

Another thing that really works for the movie is its pacing by director Jerry Thorpe. He certainly knows how to keep the film moving and manages to make the story quite interesting and makes it hold your attention even without the big-budget special effects. The ending itself is quite good, although there's no question that they were going for the same feel as THE EXORCIST. THE POSSESSED isn't a masterpiece but it's about as good as a film like this can get.

While by no means on par with such a great made-for-tv horror films from the 70s, such as The Night Stalker and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, not to mention the early 80s classic Dark Night of the Scarecrow, The Possessed is chock-full of fantastic acting. Those playing the high school girls, right on up through more experienced actors like James Farentino, a young Harrison Ford, and the wonderful character actor, Eugene Roche, all take their roles seriously, and turn what could have easily been a ho-hum affair into something far more entertaining. As silly as the plot is on the face of it, if one suspends disbelief, there is also some above-average dialogue.