by John Bizub, Contributing Writer
4K Restorations are becoming more common than ever before. With new hardware comes new ways to resurrect old media and at times release them physically vai blu-ray or DVD. One of the biggest widespread requests for this is the 1981 cult horror film Possession. The film has gained some attention prior to the announcement of its restoration. The film stars Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neil as a couple on the brink of divorce and the crazy events that they endure. The film is a masterclass in suspense and execution within a thick atmosphere. However, how does it work well in 21st century technology?
Video/Presentation
The film is presented in stunning detail. Every inch of the frame feels like it was made within the last decade. The sharpness and clarity are so rich that you can make out every part of the image. Possession is a film bathed in a stark blue color palette, and the restoration complements that to present its cold interior sequences. Any of the bizarre imagery had its faults due to the darkness in its picture. However, in the restoration, every monster or unknown figure is presented wonderfully and feels like this film has not aged a day even though it was released 40 years ago.
Audio
Possession is a film about emotion. Adjani and Neil are constantly arguing and screaming towards one another allowing absurd ranges to be seen between the two leads. The audio captured here makes the screaming feel horrifying and the over-the-top actions feel pulsating to the ears. The restoration is at its best when it is capturing tense moments of fear and dread, allowing the audio to wash over you as you witness the horrors on screen. The score makes the film feel part of its time period, when people often forget that this film is from the early ‘80s.
Overall
Possession’s 4K Restoration is well worth the wait and hopefully many can view this prior to Metrograph’s screening. This is the definitive way of watching this film: it’s elevated by its tense audio and cold environments and sweeping camerawork. Many moments throughout the restoration felt like brand new experiences and left me wishing to relive them again; that is how good this restoration is and is one of the best I have laid eyes on recently
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