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September 4, 2012 Arts & Entertainment, Featured, Movies, Uncategorized Movie review: ‘The Possession’ lacks originality For some odd reason I walked into the movie theatre the opening day of the movie “The Possession” on August 31 expecting to hold my breath and be frightened. What I got was the tired paranormal trend in modern day horror films. Everyone knows the story, an innocent young child’s curiosity leads them into being possessed by some demonic or dead spirit and the movie revolves around the father’s attempt to save his child under the unbelieving scrutiny of the mother. Slap a ,“This is based on a true story” disclaimer at the beginning and there you have it, a “scary” paranormal thriller. “The Possession” revolves around the acquisition of young Emily’s (Natasha Calis) body. It all begins at a garage sale where she becomes entranced by some treasure box that her father Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) buys for her. Little does she know her fascination with pandora’s box leaves her possessed. The film features melodramatic first world family problems with the separation of Emily’s parents Clyde and Stephanie Brenek (Kyra Sedgwick). The entire family is still in the healing process of the broken family syndrome. The recent divorce becomes an easy explanation for Emily’s erratic behavior until Clide notices her unwavering obsession with the box. He further investigates and discovers the box contains some dislocated spirit that preys on the innocent and takes over the life of its host until there is no life left. Once he unveils the truth the family unites during the exorcism of young Emily. Sounds familiar enough? The fact that I didn’t need to hold my breath or gird my loins at any point in the movie coupled with the complete lack of originality left me angry that I paid to see a movie that I have seen countless times. The previews were misleading, I mistakenly thought I would be jumping and screaming during the film but I honestly sat and laughed furiously at certain points in the movie. Young girls usually enjoy toys and dolls not boxes, so Emily’s initial attraction to a box just did not make sense to me. That was the first red flag. Modern day horror movies have replaced tremendous blood, gory violence and sinister murderers with ghosts and spirits. Maybe it’s just me, but that kind of thing is not going to have me anxious for what may come next because it’s all too predictable. I’d have to say at least in the “Paranormal Activity” movies I felt somewhat frightened at some parts but it still did not scare the pants off of me. Paranormal thrillers are cheap and easy to make. The budget for “Paranormal Activity” was reportedly only about $16,000, however the film racked in over $100 million. Directors cash in on America’s new obsession with the unknown. Even worse, much like the movie “Insidious”, the fascination with targeting children in possession movies is getting quite disturbing. Why would anyone enjoy a movie in which a child undergoes such trauma? Director Ole Bornedal should have taken cues from similar films and prevented the continuation of this tired trend in “horror” movies. The lack of originality and fright made the movie extremely weak but don’t be surprised if it does well this Labor Day weekend in the box office. Those tricked into believing “The Possession” would be scary will waste their money on a movie they have already watched. Grade: F