Andrzej Żuławski's 1981 Possession is a hard film to describe, even in terms of what genre it falls into. Often advertised as horror, though with lashings of fantasy, melodrama, and psychological thriller, it's a unique creature that has continued to disturb and baffle viewers for decades. Once a part of the notorious Video Nasties list, having been banned in the Britain, Possession gets it's first 4K UHD release in the UK thanks to Second Sight.
Set in Berlin during the Cold War, the film opens with Mark (Sam Neil) returning home from some vague spy mission, only to find his wife Anna (Isabelle Adjani) in a depressed state, unhappy at his arrival. She tells him that she wants a divorce, admitting to seeing another man. After a spiral into an alcohol fuelled depression Mark returns to their home to find his son, Bob (Michael Hogben), in a state of neglect. He learns that Anna has lost control, vanishing for days at a time, and acting more and more unstable. Mark suspects that this may be due to her affair, but as he learns more he discovers something much more frightening.
I first learned of Possession through the Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape documentary, which covered the wave of censorship that went through the UK as the BBFC banned certain films, almost all of which were horror films. Most of the films on this list are rather bloody, gore filled films that would have fallen into obscurity if it wasn't for their inclusion on the banned list. Possession found itself on this list, but other than having a few disgusting moments, feels incredibly out of place from those others now that I've finally seen it.
Possession is less of an overt horror film and more of a twisted, almost dream-like European art-house experience. Partially inspired by director Andrzej Żuławski's own divorce, the film feels like an exploration of the complex, destructive emotions one goes through when their comfortable, happy life falls to pieces and shatters their entire worldview.
Almost the entire first half of Possession lacks any overt horror, and plays instead as a heightened version of reality, where we explore the lives of these people in very relatable situations, even if their emotions are turned up to eleven. Performances are ramped up, with dialogue as likely to be delivered through yells or bursts of physicality than any real sense of sincerity. This makes Possession difficult and uncomfortable to watch in its own unique way as you feel trapped in this skewed, broken version of the world.
The film is probably most known for this in it's most infamous scene as Isabelle Adjani delivers a hauntingly raw, visceral performance as Anna suffers a miscarriage whilst in an underground passage. It is likely the scene that helped to secure the film it's place on the banned list as it delivers an incredibly shocking sequence with very little else than Adjani's performance to elicit feelings of discomfort. Adjani physicality in the sequence is nothing short of stunning as she flails and thrashes against the walls and floor, screams, bleeds, and cries out in agony as she feels the life inside her die. It's a scene that has produced essays and introspection, and even if you fail to connect with the rest of the film it's a moment that will linger with you and be the first thing that you think about when you hear the film mentioned. It's not hard to see why Adjani was nominated for so many awards for her performance in Possession.
Whilst I have been praising Possession that doesn't mean that I consider it a faultless film; and if anything I think I may have failed to connect with it the way others have. Possession has achieved a cult-like following over the decades, and has had academic praise thrown upon it by experts in horror and cinema. But, probably as someone who hasn't had much experience of melodrama, and who was expecting something a bit different, I struggled to connect with Possession. Whilst I found it interesting there were many scenes that I didn't enjoy, I found that it dragged at times, and the things that were interesting to me weren't given enough time or focus for my liking.
Possession isn't going to be a film that everyone likes, and I'm glad I didn't watch it with my partner as originally planned as I know she'd have hated it, but there are people that have yet to see it that will fall in love with it. I think that's likely a big part of the artistic merit of the film, it's one that will divide people because it's so unique and so unusual. If you've never watched Possession I would absolutely encourage you to do so, and if you enjoy the film this new release is a wonderful way to experience it.
Alongside the absolutely beautiful looking 4K version of the film, which is incredibly crisp and clear, the new limited edition set is packed with extra features. There four full length audio commentary tracks which offer a huge amount of insight and extra perspective into the film that add a ton to the watching experience; as mentioned before, I didn't really connect with the film, but I loved listening to the commentaries so that I could learn more about the film, and I ended up enjoying them more than the film itself. There's a sit down chat with Guillermo del Toro to discuss his love of Possession, which ends up being hugely fascinating. Kat Ellinger provides a video essay on the film, a look at the reception of the film in the UK and US, and an archival documentary. There's also a look at the locations where the film was shot, an interview with the composer, the producer, and director. Add onto that a look at the artist on the film's iconic poster, a making-of, deleted scenes, and a trailer, and you couldn't ask for more. Whether you're a Possession lover who demands more, or simply a fan of behind the scenes materials, this release serves up so much to enjoy. Oh, and there's the 220 page book filled with essays, art cards, and a reproduction of the original script it's hard to know what else you could want.
Possession was an odd viewing experience, one that I didn't always enjoy, but one that was fascinating throughout. The new release from Second Sight is frankly ridiculous with how much extra content you get, and puts some physical media releases to shame.
Possession is available from Second Sight Films from December 15th 2025.
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