‘Possessor’: Brandon Cronenberg’s Shocking Sci-Fi Thriller [Review]

Neon acquired U.S. rights to Brandon Cronenberg’s “Possessor” back in March

“Possessor” is the second feature film from Cronenberg, the son of legendary Canadian director David Cronenberg. Cronenberg Jr. debut feature “Antiviral” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, but this latest film, which premiered this past January at the Sundance Film Festival, is a major step up for the 40-year-old director. An NC-17-worthy visionary sci-fi that shocks and provokes in equal measures.

Here’s my capsule review of the film from the 2020 Sundance Film Festival:

“Only a Cronenberg could direct something like “Possessor,” a bloodily convoluted and erotic sci-fi caper that is never dull to watch. No, David isn’t in the director’s chair for this one, but rather his son Brandon Cronenberg, who clearly shares the same cinematic DNA as his father. The body-horror in “Possessor” is upped to the nth degree as a female agent (Andrea Riseborough), working for a corporation that uses brain implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies to commit assassinations, slowly loses control of her mind when she inhabits a new body (Christopher Abbott). To reveal more would reveal all the twists and turns Cronenberg has in store for his audience, but, make no mistake about it, it’s the violence that makes this movie well worth a look. I tweeted that “Possessor” may just be the most violent movie I have ever seen at Sundance and that an NC-17 rating is all but assured, that is if this movie ever gets to see the light of day in theatres.”

“Possessor” is set to arrive in select theaters, drive-ins, and VOD on October 2nd.