The Possession

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The Possession

PG-13,

2012,

1h 31m,

Horror/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

40%

97 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

97 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ 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.

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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Danuel W

@dannyLeboi

Jun 10, 2025

Possessions are not cool and all. Test Review

Han R

Mar 16, 2019

Does it's thing pretty fine, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan is perfectly capable, but God I am so over this exact formula cropping up in the genre over and over and over. The Possession doesn't have a single thing that makes it noteworthy.

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Finn W

Feb 7, 2019

'Hey, how can we rip off 'The Exorcist' but somehow pretend like we're bringing something new to the table?' 'I don't know, make it Jewish or something instead?' 'Sure, good enough'.

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Draco M

Dec 20, 2018

Did not mind it actually. Jeffrey Dean Morgan made this movie decent. Based on Jewish demon lore. A little different than usual(being the vatican and catholic excorsists). It created a story and dug deeper into character background. Movie is likeable.

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Theodore G

Oct 21, 2018

An okay film, but it has it's problems.

Oct 17, 2018

I'm not a big movie watcher, especially horror flicks. Having said that, I will have to say, I did like this movie for a couple reasons. One, it did have a plot and the actress portraying Emily, Natasha Cali's was perfect for the part. You can't tell me that kid didn't thoroughly enjoy screaming her head off at adults! Secondly, it wasn't overly bloody and grossly exaggerated. For a mild mannered single chick flicker, I could handle it. I enjoyed the ending, leaves it open for a sequel. One negative, if any, was the title. That in itself almost made me not interested in watching it.

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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

2:24

Now Playing

The Possession: Official Clip - The Demon Within

2:35

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

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The Possession: Official Clip - Who Are You?

2:18

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The Possession: Official Clip - Fork You!

2:05

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The Possession: Official Clip - The Power of the Box

3:49

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The Possession: Official Clip - Hand to Mouth

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The Possession: Official Clip - Moths

1:37

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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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