Possum

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🎙️ EPISODE 298: 10.01.2020 I had no idea this movie was written and directed by the guy who did Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, which is a show that I have very warm feelings about despite never having seen a second of 1. It's one of those things I just been 'meaning to do' (haha imagine that, a life of only entertainment and passive engagement with 'things')... THAT SAID, I didn't like Possum and won't let this information, discovered after the fact, cloud my GUT REACTION and FILM BUFF EXPERTISE. This psychological horror is far too heavy handed when it comes to the metaphors and, at its worst, feels like a student art film slog. The kind of movie that makes you want to turn your brain completely OFF.

If a movie is only metaphor on top of metaphor then it ends up representing nothing, and that's essentially what's happenened here. This coupled with the fact that its ending is played pretty much straight, with no room for multiple interpretations, renders the viewer feeling bad on multiple levels. The themes of childhood trauma make themselves known in time, though they would have been stronger if we'd been given some exposition upfront to ground this spooktastic story. Ultimately, the film lacks humanity because of these failtures. I don't feel anything for this creepy weirdo because the only thing we've seen him do is act like a CREEPY WEIRDO, largely in what feels like a netherworld, void of any traditional linear narrative taboot. And if that's all that this was... fine! Then you really don't need the painful reveal in the end, though do you.


Just visually speaking, there's a nice horror movie here. Sure I would have liked to have seen some more creepy movement from the spider puppet but beggars can't be choosers (read: spider puppets named "Possum" just can't do anything you want them to). Matthew Holness clearly has a talent behind the camera. The sound editing and score choices are another matter. There's a difference between striking a mood and completely pandering to an audience's sensibilities; this gave it a very mainstream movie feel despite its clearly indie look.

I wouldn't hesitate to give another His Holness flick a go in the future despite this one not working for me. I don't think this is a good movie but I would recommend it if you're into feeling bored and then terrible for awhile.

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FOOTNOTES:

1. Update: I've since watched and it rules. This movie doesn't rule. But that's just like my opinion man. [BACK]

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CHRONOLOGICALLY
⫷ EPISODE 297B - (YOU ARE HERE) - EPISODE 298B ⫸

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