Good news,Possessionfans! The director forthe upcoming remakeof Andrzej Żuławski’s classic horror film,Parker Finn, is on the track to make a unique, “completely bonkers” film. Those familiar with the 1981 film, starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill, know that Finn does have very original source material, andhis promise confirms that he will follow the same idea for the remake.
The remake, starring Robert Pattinson (who’s also producing), will be distributed by Paramount Pictures, Finn’s filmmaking home after his horror gemSmilemade over $200 million for them in 2022. The project is still in early development, so there are not many details about it. However, while promotingSmile 2,Finn spoke to Games Radarabout the upcomingPossessionremake andexpanded on the tone he’s planning for the film:
It’s early days, but we’reincredibly excited about this completely bonkers movie.Possessionis one of my favorite films of all time, and so what was really important to me was that we were honoring the original and staying true to its absolute frenzied, manic ferocity.
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Żuławski’s film is a cryptic psychological horror film produced in West Germany in 1981. It follows an international spy who comes back to his home in West Berlin, where he finds his wife is estranged from their marriage. A custody battle ensues, and Mark and Anna’s relationship ends. However, when Mark hires a private investigator to follow Anna and find an explanation for her strange behavior,he discovers Anna’s issue may be what’s growing inside her, both physically and emotionally. Trust us when we say you will never guess what happens in the third act.
Possessionmade a good impression at the 34th Cannes Film Festival, where Adjani won the Best Actress award. Her performance is, by far,one of the most notable in horror history.Nevertheless, the film was banned in the United Kingdom when it was stamped with a “video nasties” label. When it was released in the United States, it was butchered in the editing room, and the resulting 81-minute cut was even more puzzling than the original film.
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Fortunately, its cult status grew with time, with many consideringPossessionone of the most important horror films ever made.Smiledirector Parker Finn is facing a great challenge, but he’s gained enough trust. The important question:Who will play the character of Anna? Place your bets in the comments below.
The originalPossessionfilm is available to stream on Shudder.
Possession Isn’t a Very Easy Film to Remake for Modern Audiences
Possessionhas been a divisive film since its release. Its theme is far from traditional, and its execution calls for many interpretations, something modern audiences are perhaps not used to.In other words, ifPossessionwere released today, it wouldn’t have had the same impact. What’s important is that Finn is aware of this. The director plans to address some changes to the story that could make the reboot a little friendlier for modern audiences, while also paying tribute tothe original material:
“We want to make sure that fans of the original, who might be a little suspect of a remake, when they sit down to it are gonna realize, ‘Oh, this movie is for me, and it’s really embracing what I love.’
At the same time, though, I want to be inviting new fans in. I think there’s a really wonderful opportunity that by reimagining this movie, people who haven’t seen the 1981 film will go and visit it, so hopefully it’ll spread the love.”
Parker Finn’s latest film,Smile 2, will premiere exclusively in theaters on July 08, 2025.
