Crime,Drama,Mystery,Thriller
Italy
The Possessed is a 1965 Italian horror film directed by Luigi Bazzoni and Franco Rossellini. The film is based on the novel "The Tartar Steppe" by Italian novelist Dino Buzzati. It stars Peter Baldwin as Bernard, Salvo Randone as Enrico, Valentina Cortese as Irma and Pier Giovanni Anchisi as Mario.
The film is set in a small fishing village in Italy and is about a writer named Bernard who arrives in the village to get inspirations for his novel. However, he finds out that the village is full of secrets and mysteries. He hears about Tilde, a chambermaid whom he had secretly fallen in love with during his previous visit. He learns that she had killed herself but suspects foul play.
Bernard meets a hunchbacked photographer who suggests that Tilde might have been murdered by Enrico, her lover, because she was pregnant and did not want to abort. Things take a turn for the worse when Mario, Enrico's son, returns to the village with his newly married wife Adriana. The woman is kept like a prisoner in her room and is seemingly unhappy. She tries to contact Bernard for help but is found dead soon after.
The atmosphere in the village becomes more and more tense as two more killings take place. Bernard tries to unravel the mystery and discovers that the culprit is Enrico, who had killed Tilde and Adriana to keep his secrets safe. The film ends with Bernard leaving the village, knowing that he has all the material he needs for his novel.
The Possessed is a well-made film that uses suspense and mystery to create a foreboding atmosphere. The acting by the cast is top-notch, and the direction by Bazzoni and Rossellini is excellent. The film has a haunting quality that lingers even after the film is over. It is a must-watch for anyone who loves horror or mystery films.
