The Possessed (1977)

Possession-type movies were quite popular in the 1970s thanks to "The Exorcist". In this TV-movie, clothing, papers, and people are bursting into flames at a girls' boarding school, so it's ex-priest Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) to the rescue. He tangles with the school's administrators, including the evil Louise Gelson (Joan Hackett). Although not unexpected, the nail-spitting/vomit/immolation sequence is quite a bravura finale. The movie's conclusion is a little muddled, apparently purposely so. Fine actresses Ann Dusenberry and Claudette Nevins also star.First broadcast in May 1977, this film also starred fourth-billed Harrison Ford, in his final role before becoming a worldwide superstar thanks to his appearance in "Star Wars" a few weeks later. He plays a handsome biology teacher who unfortunately finds himself locked in a room and on fire. Ford's brief appearance is a little disappointing, but how could the filmmakers have known he'd be incredibly famous in just a couple of weeks? This TV-movie is an interesting time-filler, but you've seen it all before. Try to catch it for a brief glimpse of young and pre-stardom Harrison Ford.

The Possessed (1977) *** (out of 4) Father Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) is in an automobile accident when he is pronounced dead on the scene. In the limbo he hears a voice telling him to return to life and seek out the Evil in the world. Soon afterwards he ends up at a girl's boarding school in Salen, Oregon where mysterious fires have been breaking out. The head mistress (Joan Hackett), her sister (Claudette Nevins) and her younger daughter (Ann Dusenberry) all seem to have some sort of connection.THE POSSESSED is without question one of the better made-for-television horror movies ever made. It's kind of funny that Warner now handles the release of the picture since it was released the same year as their disastrous EXORCIST II. There's no question that this movie was probably inspired by THE EXORCIST but everything wrong with that film's sequel is certainly improved on here. There's no doubt that I went into the movie not sure what to expect but I walked away with an extremely good film that manages to feature great performances and a pretty good story.The performances are certainly a major plus because there's quite a bit of character development here. Farentino is wonderful as the Father who finds himself trying to figure out exactly why he was brought back to life and who is behind these Satanic fires. Nevins is also excellent in her role as the mother and Dusenberry is also good. The supporting cast includes Dinah Manoff, P.J. Soles and Diana Scarwid. The biggest name is Harrison Ford who is excellent in a small role as a professor. The film also benefits from some nice cinematography and an extremely effective music score.Another thing that really works for the movie is its pacing by director Jerry Thorpe. He certainly knows how to keep the film moving and manages to make the story quite interesting and makes it hold your attention even without the big-budget special effects. The ending itself is quite good, although there's no question that they were going for the same feel as THE EXORCIST. THE POSSESSED isn't a masterpiece but it's about as good as a film like this can get.

I find nothing less scary than modern vampire movies or slasher films. I do not waste my time with them. We can't have for my taste enough horror films which are Omen-esque. Or, as suggested in the reviews here, along the lines of the Exorcist. That is, horror films which have at their core a metaphysical struggle between Good and Evil, which is what the drama plays out. I agree with most of the previous reviewers on most of their points. The one point on which I would venture to disagree and which has prompted me to add this contribution is that the very reason that the evil is unexplained is what I find philosophically fascinating about this film.Farentino plays a priest who has lost his faith or is on his way to losing it. Is he a lost soul literally returned from the dead to redeem himself in some way? His backstory is pleasingly kept unclear. I agree with how creepy the finale is with Joan Hackett's character literally spitting nails. But the creepiest moment in the film for me, and what lingers in my memory, is when Farentino's priest is asked why this evil is happening? He responds there is no reason why to Evil. Evil just is. Evil just happens. Whether or not I agree with it, and I am not saying I do, as a premise that for me is one of the most genuinely chilling moments and revelations not just in this but in all the supernatural films I have seen.Psychological/philosophical horror is the scariest horror of all. This film is a minor gem of supernatural horror for the discerning.Pity it was a pilot never picked up.

Lost-his-faith priest Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) dies in a car accident. He is admonished by God for having lost his faith and returned to Earth on a mission to seek out evil. He quickly finds it at an all girls school run by siblings Ellen (Claudette Nevins) and Louise (Joan Hackett). Fires have been starting with seemingly no source and it appears to actually be targeting the girls. This TV movie plays like a pilot for THE EXORCIST: THE SERIES, but WB Television never went any further with it. Farentino is good in the lead role and you'll notice some familiar faces among the students including P.J. Soles, Dinah Manoff, and Ann Dusenberry. Perhaps the biggest draw for folks is a pre-STAR WARS Harrison Ford as the girls' biology teacher. The fire bits are pretty spooky, as is the performance of the possessed person (I won't spoil it) during the last ten minutes. The end gets down to the EXORCIST-lite moments, including the possessed person puking up nails (!) on the priest.