Horror Movies: The Possession

Πέμπτη 20 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012

Sam Raimi

Samuel Marshall “Sam” Raimi

Sam Raimi is one of the most significant horror filmmakers, he is best known for directing the Evil Dead series movies and Spider-Man films. Sam Raimi has an active career in directing, writing, producing and finally acting in a large number of film projects and TV programs among them as I have mentioned the Evil Dead, Spider - man, Darkman (superhero action genre), A Simple Plan (crime film), Drag Me to Hell (supernatural horror), Hercules (TV series), Legend of the Seeker (TV series), Spartacus: Blood and Sand (TV series) and his latest project is the production of the film “The Possession”.

Sam Raimi as child and student

Sam Raimi was born and grown in Michigan State (USA) he attended Groves High School and Michigan State University. As a child wanted to became filmmaker, he started by shooting short “super 8” films. During his studies at Michigan State University he has created the Association of Creative Film making and he met Robert Tapert and Bruce Campell.

Sam Raimi the beginning

Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert and Bruce Campell wanted to film a horror film to launch their film making career. The initial idea was the plot structure of “Evil Dead”. They had to secure financial resources to produce “Evil Dead”. Their idea was to produce a short horror film with similar plot elements and film making horror techniques and use it as a model for their finance raising campaign.

As result the first film of Sam Raimi is the film “Within the woods” (1978) a 32 minute short supernatural film. Within the woods is a one shot location film and the plot structure of the film is about a group of teenagers (university students) trapped somewhere in the countryside (woods) in an isolated place (cabin) and they are under the attack of an supernatural, deadly, unstoppable and evil force. In the case of “Within the woods” film, the reason for the demonic attack is the desecration of an Indian tube then an unexplained force transformed one of the young students into a zombie and he started killing the others.

“Within the woods” was produced to demonstrate and to present to possible investors the film making skills, ability and professional attitude of Sam Raimi and his team to produce a horror feature. The short film was shown to friends, family members and a network of investors. Finally Sam Raimi had risen $ 375,000 and then he directed and produced one of the best horror films ever the “Evil Dead” (1981). Evil Dead was one of the most successful commercially films and it became one of the most cult hits. Then he directed the Crimewave (1985) but it was not a success. Then Sam Raimi returned to already known area the horror genre by directing the “Evill Dead II”, which has beyond horror genre elements a strong slapstick humor.

You can see a part of the “Within the woods” film on youtube

to be continued

Elias Stoikos

Relative Articles

Evil Dead

Evil Dead II

The possession

Halloween Movie

The Devil Inside

Resources

Sam Raimi - Internet Movies Database

Sam Raimi - Wikipedia

Ghost House Pictures

I need to mention that this article tries to provide information to reader using all the available data on the day of its publishing. New information and data for this subject and issue are published every day. It’s been highly recommended to the reader to search on Google for more information. World is moving searching is the driving force. Searching is the source of inspiration and the source of truth.

Τρίτη 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012

The Possession (2012)

The Possession film is based on a real story!

“Do not open this box!”

The film “The Possession” is a supernatural horror film and is based on a true story. The Possession film is about the demonic attack to an innocent American family. Breneck family is going to fight and unstoppable, deadly and unexplained demonic force. Breneck's little daughter faces the wrath of an unspeakable evil.

The Possession was directed by Dannish film director Ole Bornedal and the screenplay of the film was written byJulliet Snowden and Stiles White. The film is produced by Sam Raimi (known to audience by Evil Dead, Spiderman films) Robert Tapert and J. R. Young.

The plot structure of the “The Possession”

Em is a young girl who acquired an antique box at a yard sale. She has the antique box in her room and she opens it. Em’s behavior is changing day by day. Initially, she becomes very obsessed with the antique wooden box and then Em’s is transformed completely into an erratic person. The couple of Breneck family that her eleven years old daughter is changing and wants to help her. They face a chaotic, unexplained and unspeakable situation.

The couple learns that the box was build to contain a Dybbuk. According to Jewish tradition Dybbuk is an evil, deadly and dislocated spirit that inhabits and possesses the human host.

The Breneck family has to fight the devil spirit has to survive. They need help and they ask for help and with nowhere to turn Clyde Breneck asks hekp from Tzadok the son of a Hasidik rabbi who knows how to help the Breneck family despite the fears of his community. Tzadok dares to help. Tzadok is the only hope of Breneck’s family. Tzadok decides to fight the demon merciless demon knowing that is almost impossible to win.

Tzadok will perform the exorcism and as it’s expected the exorcism scene is the most menacing scenes in the film. During the exorcism scene huge moths are flying from Em’s mouth. Actually, is the first time in history of horror cinema, moths to be used as symbols of evil.

Finally, the demon is unleashed and the little girl Em is free to enjoy her life.

The cast of “The Possession”

Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays the part of Clyde Breneck (the father of the Breneck family). Kyra Sedgwick plays the part of Em’s mother. The part of Hannah is played by Madison Davenport. The part of the little girl who is under the demonic force control is played by Natasha Calis. The part of Em’s brother is played by Grant Show.

I need also to highlight the participation of Hebrew - raggae - rap artist Matisyahu in the film and you may have realise. Matisyahu plays the part of Tzadok the exorcist.

The Possession - New frontier of horror cinema

The Possesion must be the first film in history of horror cinema that presents an evil force related with an ancient Jewish tradition - The Dybbuk. In my opinion, this plot element makes the film even more interesting.

Also, the use of Moths as symbol of evil is a new plot element and it’s the first time used in horror cinema. The director of the film Ole Bornedal has stated “moths are weirder and more ancient than most insects and they seem to have something supernatural about them”. Also for the production needs of the film, they use real moths and not computer generated imagery.

The approach of the film is to make audience to scare not just in the theater but after they leave.

The screenplay of “The Possession”

The plot structure of the film “The Possession” is based on a very successful and all ready known storytelling model. A group of people - in the film Possession a family - with strong characters (the father of the family) - face an extreme danger - an unstoppable unexplained evil force has conquered their 11 years old daughter. They have to face the danger. They have to fight and to survive. The story of the film is based on a real story from an ebay auction case.

It happenned in Los Angeles in 2004 and it was covered in “Los Angeles Times” by journalist “Leslie Cornstern” who has auctioned a mysterious box on Ebay claiming that it was an authentic “Dybbuk box”. Also, the owner of the box mentioned on ebay that box was responsible for a large number of un - holly terrors and he was desperate to be rid of it.

According to the box’s owner, box brought to him and to his family harrowing effects like nightmares, sudden illnesses, freakish visions and unexplained evil voices.

You can see the trailer of Possession on youtube