As The Possessed begins, novelist Bernard ends a relationship to head back to a lakeside hotel where the object of his romantic reverie, Tilde, works as a maid. Or worked as it turns out, because Bernard is soon lost in an investigation about Tilde’s death and whether it was suicide or murder. There’s something strange happening at the hotel and it affects Bernard too as he tries to uncover the truth.
The film was based on the true story of the Alleghe killings, but certainly doesn’t try to be a documentary-style presentation. Instead it’s a beautiful, occasionally intensely dream-like mystery film that plays like some extended episode of a lost, newly discovered European version of The Twilight Zone. The imagery skirts with the horrific at time and there’s certainly elements of The Possessed that would find their way into later films in the giallo subgenre. Though the writing is perfunctory, the performances are strong, most notably from the suitably stunned, mournful Peter Baldwin, and it’s a very fine film that grips throughout and leads to a satisfying conclusion.
A highlight of this new Arrow Video release is the brand new 2K scan. This is important because, displayed in crisp black and white, The Possessed is a remarkably beautiful film. The cinematography by Leonida Barboni is often extraordinary, and the unhurried direction from Luigi Bazzoni and Franco Rossellini allows it to shine. The picture here is sharp to the extent if you were told the film was shot yesterday it wouldn’t be impossible to believe. That dream-like nature of the film is perfectly complimented by the visuals and just on this alone, The Possessed would be a recommended pick-up.
As usual, however, Arrow Video has added in a number of reasonable extras to support the film. First is a commentary by genre expert Tim Lucas. It’s not one for fans of long pauses (there are a number) but is worth it as Lucas is an agreeable host who very much knows his stuff. Richard Dyer on The Possessed is a decent twenty-five-minute video appreciation. Lipstick Marks is an interview with make-up artist Giannetto De Rossie, and Youth Memories) is an interview with assistant director Dante Ferretti, and for fans who like to know all about the production they’re both good. The Legacy of the Bazzoni Brothers is a half-hour interview with Francesco Barilli, who knew them both. All of extras are solid and provide context for the film and the time it was made it, as well as the industry in general.
It’s a decent package to support a very good film and is easy to recommend but mainly for that wonderful picture.
THE POSSESSED (1965) / CERT: 12 / DIRECTOR: LUIGI BAZZONI, FRANCO ROSSELLINI / SCREENPLAY: GIULLIO QUESTI, LUIGI BAZZONI, FRANCO ROSSELLINI / STARRING: PETER BALDWIN, SALVO RANDONE, VALENTINA CORTESE / RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 4TH
