Cronenberg yes, but Brandon Cronenberg is behind Possessor, about an assassin who possesses bodies to perform the killings.
Tasya Vos (English actor Andrea Riseborough) is the assassin from within. Tasya's handler, retired assassin Girder (American actor Jennifer Jason Leigh) is concerned that Tasya is too emotionally devoted to her husband Michael and son Ira and not concentrating enough on killing.
Her next assignment involves infiltrating Colin Tate (American actor Christopher Abbott). The battle within takes up the majority of the film.
Character development is not a Cronenberg goal in this film. Science fiction is the driver for the plot and film.
Riseborough works hard to be almost robotic in the role. This sounds insulting but suits the film.
Leigh makes the most of her limited role. She seems to be the only actor having fun with the story.
The beginning of the film is beautiful and gorgeous. The rest of the film doesn't take advantage of the start.
The story feels cold and going through the motions. The idea of a person within a person can be more thoughtful, such as when Penélope Cruz played a man within her body with Victoria Abril in Sin noticias de Dios (2001).
There are enough twists and turns in the film to keep things interesting. Still, an intriguing story shouldn't be surrounded by a meh presentation.
The concept is enough to keep the filmgoer motivated. Just needed a lot more fun and/or interesting.
TIFF selects Top 10 Canadian films of 2020
Canadians are rather low on the callsheet with Rossif Sutherland in a brief role as Tasya's husband Michael; Kaniehtiio Horn as Reeta; and Gabrielle Graham as Holly Bergman.
Toronto is off in the distance but only an expert or someone who lives there.
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Possessor made the TIFF Top Ten list of Canadian films in 2020. The film is available on Hulu in the United States. There are 2 different versions: we reviewed the uncut version though we have no clue what is missing in the other version.
video credit: YouTube/Neon
photo credit: Possessor
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