A lawyer, Jess(Sarah Michelle Gellar) faces a crisis of bizarre proportions when her beloved husband, Ryan(Michael Landes) suffers a serious car crash thanks to his barbaric ex-con brother, Roman(Lee Pace) who was speeding at excessive speeds passing motorists during a foggy morning whilst in the midst of a temper tantrum(as is established at the opening, this guy was quite an unfriendly, rude, hostile, ill-tempered fellow, whose mere presence repulsed her). Something quite surreal might've taken place, a possible "soul transference" where Ryan has taken "possession" over his brother's body! At first, Jess avoids Roman despite his knowledge of specific events only her and Ryan would know and had shared. But, as she notices little quirks and behavioral patterns Ryan made now being exhibited by Roman, Jess ponders the real possibility that her husband has returned to her! But, is it an actual hoax? Is Ryan really present in Roman's body? Is such an unbelievable situation as soul transference perhaps legitimate? This movie is really an odd experience because the plot really develops a weird scenario. Imagine the sheer notion of your gracious, cherubic husband, who wrote you love letters everyday, carved your entire head and face in clay, and had a rose(or flowers)around all the time to remind you of his devotion to you, returning in the body of a man you positively loathe! I think Sarah Michele Gellar really handles the part as well as can be expected. She shows the complex emotions one would obviously face when dealing with such matters as having your husband in a coma on the brink of death while his brother seems to harbour Ryan's personality and soul. Then, there are plot complications and revelations which cast doubt on Roman. A lover, Casey(Tuva Novotny) turns up throwing a wrench in the evolving relations between Jess and Ryan/Roman. When Casey goes missing, and a tear drop necklace(her grandmother's)that Ryan had given back to Jess is proved to be a fake version of another which she accidentally broke, we are(as Jess)left wondering whether a soul transfered or if this is all a load of manipulative hogwash. Anyway, the movie is definitely lifted by good leads and certainly has a unique storyline even if it is a bit daffy. I think Gellar fans will find her performance acceptable, even if they find the film a bit of an odd duck. The complications are interesting and I thought the movie had a heart..that's something, I guess. One complaint I have is the film's title and DVD cover..definitely more than a bit deceptive. One development that really made me feel uncomfortable(..besides the eventual love making between Jess and Roman, while Ryan's body lie unconscious in a hospital)was the pregnancy, which is why I brought out the point regarding how awkward the movie was as an experience.
Review of Possession
