Movie spotlight
Possessed
This rich essay searches for new ways of being together in the age of social media. We arrange our lives to impress the gaze of others and have become accustomed to being seen. For many young people, however, the party is over. Neoliberalism has made murderous competition the norm; and in the meantime, the planet is dying. Following the unmasking of Facebook’s real motives, more and more people are deleting their Facebook accounts – but this often results in social death. The first image in POSSESSED sets the tone: liquefied lead runs over burning smartphones, followed by images of a devastated neighbourhood in Aleppo. Even the smartphones have not survived the attack. The chains of social media must be cast off, but the perpetual question remains: Who is looking out for you? Academics Alex Williams (University of East Anglia) and Nick Srnicek (King's College London) address this crucial question, along with other issues
Insights
Plot Summary
A group of people find themselves trapped in a mysterious house where they are relentlessly tormented by a malevolent supernatural entity. As the entity's power grows, they must uncover the dark history of the house and find a way to fight back before they are consumed by its evil.
Critical Reception
Possessed (2018) received a largely negative reception from critics and audiences. It was primarily criticized for its unoriginal plot, poor acting, and reliance on cheap jump scares, failing to offer a fresh take on the haunted house genre.
What Reviewers Say
The film struggles with a derivative script that offers little in the way of novelty.
Performances are generally considered weak, detracting from any potential tension.
Relies too heavily on predictable jump scares rather than building atmosphere or genuine horror.
Google audience: Audience reviews for Possessed (2018) are scarce and generally reflect disappointment, with many viewers finding the film to be a forgettable and uninspired horror flick.
Fun Fact
Despite Oren Peli's prior success with the 'Paranormal Activity' franchise, 'Possessed' did not achieve similar commercial or critical success and is often overlooked.
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