Directed by:
Matthew HolnessScreenplay:
Matthew HolnessCinematography:
Kit FraserComposer:
The Radiophonic WorkshopVOD (3)
Plots(1)
The story follows disgraced children’s puppeteer Philip (Sean Harris), returning to his childhood home of Fallmarsh, Norfolk, intent on destroying Possum, a hideous puppet he keeps hidden inside a brown leather bag. When his attempts fail, Philip is forced to confront his sinister stepfather Maurice (Alun Armstrong) in an effort to escape the dark horrors of his past. (Bulldog Film Distribution)
(more)Reviews (2)
A bizarro film along the lines of Eraserhead, but more anchored in reality. A gloomy setting and dream sequences, sometimes chronologically scattered. The protagonist’s trauma and the monster to whom he is psychologically bound and who is a metaphorical personification of his nightmares. A cinematic mindfuck for the select viewers who can handle it, with the cool actorly facial expressions of Sean Harris and a vocal showcase by Alun Armstrong. In the end, however, it’s impossible to say if it works in any meaningful way or elicits any emotion.
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Possum is a horror-tinged psychological drama featuring two characters and one terrifying puppet you won’t easily forget. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s Spider — though while Spider leans more heavily on pure psychology, Possum is far more unsettling, ready to rattle your nerves if you let it. The story is quite surreal, but if you pay close attention, you’ll unravel it without too much trouble. The ending ties everything together neatly, leaving no major questions unanswered — just don’t expect the film to spoon-feed you those answers.
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