Director Damiano Damiani, the Italian maestro of the political poliziottechi film (How to Kill a Judge, I Am Scared) as well as spaghetti westerns like Bullet for the General, takes on human corruption of another kind in this rare foray into an American co-production and the horror genre. Arguably the best of the Amityville Horror trilogy, The Possession is the prequel to the first movie, following an abusive father (Burt Young) and his brood as they move into their new Long Island home. Almost immediately, the toxic dysfunction of the family’s domestic life serves as conduit for the spiritual evil of the house. Young’s teen son (Jack Magner) seems to bear the brunt of his father’s brutality and the otherworldly influences, and the relatively unknown cast adds to the disturbingly realistic ambience. This is not your usual Hollywood horror outing! Savaged by most critics, one can only guess it touched a sore spot in mainstream reviewers, challenging preconceptions about American middle class bliss. With James Olson and Andrew Prine as two priests trying to stop the satanic goings-on, and Moses Gunn as a police detective.
“A polished exploitation film. The end result is ripe with domestic violence, incest, flying furniture and demonic possession culminating in an over the top, skin-shredding denouement… it also deals with some very real familial problems and social issues…” – Cool Ass Cinema
