The Possession of Joel Delaney

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Trailer—The Possession of Joel Delaney

The Possession of Joel Delaney

The Possession of Joel Delaney is from an era of filmmaking that cannot be done today. There is a certain casualness in the acting and filming that is strictly a product of 1970's films. Yes, there are moments that seem slightly unpolished which is exactly what makes some of these films from that era so interesting. This film is a perfect example of a type of film that Hollywood can no longer produce. Norah Benson is a society lady in New York amongst the upper middle class and attends parties with pretentious people. However, one of these socialites is a friend who tries to help her brother who may be possessed by a serial killer. The acting is excellent by everyone. Everyone looks good without being too perfect. But the atmosphere in the scenes, the believable characters are what make the film. You really feel that these people are their characters. The tension in the end keeps you on the edge of your seat. Don't miss this.

I thought "The Possession of Joel Delaney" was an excellent movie. The performances are superb and the last fifteen minutes of the film are sooo incredibly scary. The plot deals with a troubled man named Joel who shows signs of demonic possession. His rich older sister Norah is sure he is either going crazy or on LSD, but when she realizes her brother led a quite different life and had a strange friend named Tonio Perez (who, as it happens, was a dangerous decapitation murderer), she is led to believe that Joel is possessed by Tonio's vengeful spirit and an exorcism must be performed. The mood is dark and there are scenes that stick in your mind for days...the haunting voice Joel speaks in when possessed by Tonio, the scary and quite sick finally where he torments Norah and her two kids. I love this movie and think it is a must-watch for any horror fan. It is definitely not, "The Exorcist", but more subtle. Incredibly scary.

Potent, occasionally disturbing, but ultimately uncomfortable thriller from Ramona Stewart's novel concerns an upper-crust New Yorker (Shirley MacLaine) who reunites with her vivacious brother, but soon begins to suspect he's either on drugs, insane, or worse...it's worse. Unapologetic film dives in where most movies would fear to tread, and that's both pro and con. Turns out Joel Delaney has become involved in a voodoo cult and is now possessed by the soul of a vicious killer. Final moments with MacLaine and kids at the beach, cornered by Perry King's dangerous Delaney, are quite nasty...but you have to admire that final plot-twist, handled with unashamed bravado. I would recommend the picture to connoisseurs of the offbeat, even if the film is actually rather pointless, never dealing in depth with its own subject matter. ** from ****

Nora Benson (Shirley MacLaine) is a spoiled socialite who finds herself caught up in a supernatural nightmare, when she starts to believe that her brother (Perry King) is possessed by the spirit of a dead murderer. Ms. MacLaine is fantastic in her role, bringing a complexity to a part that could have easily been played as an over-the-top parody. THE POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY is an excellent example of early 1970's cinema at its dark, politically incorrect best. This was a time when it seemed as though all directors were taking risks and trying new things. This film takes horror in a direction that few, if any, would attempt today...