Unleashing the Human Psyche: Possessor's Disturbing Plot

The audience for body horror is a unique and discerning group. Films like Possessor are stunning works of art that capture something fundamental about the human experience. However, not everyone can appreciate the slightly abstract storytelling or the graphic blood and gore. Those who are able to handle Possessor should not hesitate to see it, but even those who cannot might still glean something from learning the plot.

The Cronenberg family has one of the most unusual legacies in Hollywood. David Cronenberg pioneered the body horror genre in the early 1970s with films such as Shivers and Rabid, and went on to create its most iconic entries with The Fly and Videodrome. In 2008, his son Brandon took up the mantle by directing his first short film and has continued to carry on the tradition of body horror to this day.

What is Possessor About?

Possessor takes place in a dystopian version of 2008, where technology has advanced but humanity has not. Tasya Vos, an assassin, struggles with balancing her responsibilities to her family and her job. Using cutting-edge technology, Vos possesses the bodies of her victims, which are implanted with a device by her agency. After completing her mission, Vos forces her host body to commit suicide, leaving no trace behind. However, this method has taken a toll on her mental health, and she struggles with her sense of identity.

When not on the job, Vos attempts to lead a normal life with her husband, Michael, and son, Ira. Her handler, Girder, advises her to distance herself from her family, as attachments make her a less efficient killer. Vos's latest assignment involves eliminating the wealthy CEO John Parse and his daughter Ava. She takes over the mind of Ava's fiancé, Colin Tate, but something is different this time. Vos's hold on Tate's body weakens as his personality resists her control. She struggles to maintain Tate's persona at work, home, and with his loved ones. As Vos and Tate battle for dominance, Vos's family becomes involved, and the lines between their identities begin to blur. She morphs into something else entirely as she fights to complete her mission.

The following section contains spoilers for Possessor.

How does Possessor End?

The events in Possessor are not numerous, but rather a deeply personal internal drama. Tasya Vos takes over Colin Tate's body and leads him through a party at Parse's residence. She feeds him alcohol and initiates a fight with John to establish a motive. However, Vos is kicked out of the party. Upon her return, she embarks on a slow and extended sequence of murders. She stabs John in the eye and kills Ava for interfering. When the time comes to end Tate's life, Vos finds herself unable to carry out the task. Instead, Tate stabs himself in the head, causing damage to the implant and forcing Vos into his subconscious. In the end, Tate regains control of his body and leaves the scene without any knowledge of what occurred or why. Although he is now in charge, his mind is filled with memories that do not belong to him.

Tate seeks refuge in a friend's apartment, but his fragmented memories of the hit on John lead him to kill his friend. Eddie, one of Vos's fellow assassins, is sent to take out Tate and complete the mission, but instead, Tate gains control over Vos's consciousness. After a fierce battle of wills, Tate gains access to Vos's identity and tracks down her husband and son. Seeking answers and vengeance, Tate holds Vos's husband at gunpoint, but Vos emerges and urges Tate to kill them both. When Michael disarms Tate/Vos, her killer instinct takes over, and she beats him to death with a meat cleaver. Girder, Vos's handler, takes control of Ira and stabs Tate in the throat, finally killing him. Vos's personality resurfaces and she fatally shoots her own son. In the aftermath, Tasya Vos is the only one left standing. She returns to Girder and recalls a memory from her youth, where she killed and mounted a butterfly for display. Instead of expressing guilt, she remains silent. Girder has successfully transformed Tasya Vos into the perfect killer.

Possessor is a challenging, thought-provoking film that is not for the faint of heart. It delves into much more than just violence and gore, telling the tragic story of Tasya Vos. The film is unlike anything else, from its intricate details to its striking visuals. While its plot can be explained, its identity must be experienced to truly understand its impact.