Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Possession of Michael King Blu-ray Movie Review

Is this Blu-ray worthy of your possession?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 26, 2014

The Possession of Michael King nobly strives to, at least, put a different kind of spin on the "found footage" movie. Rather than simply happen to record the unexplainable, the title character sets out to either prove the existence of the paranormal and the satanic or to put to rest once and for all rumors of devilish intrusions and demonic possessions when such evil spirits are called upon through ritual. While the film never quite escapes the basic flow of its genre contemporaries, it's enjoyably disturbing nevertheless and, despite leaning on some crutches, at least gives the appearance of novelty in several key junctures. For a genre as tired as this one, The Possession of Michael King does well to reinvigorate it, if only in spurts and not to any sort of monumental success that would drive it to the head of the Horror movie class.

Um...ouch?

Following the tragic loss of his wife, Michael King (Shane Johnson) sets out to make a film about his experiences with black magic, hoping to chronicle his journey and anything that may or may not happen to him as a result of his dabbling in the dark arts. He visits a psychic -- the same psychic who he, in a roundabout way, blames for his wife's death -- a preacher turned cold from the ways of God, and a darker occult leading couple that immerses him in ritual. Michael gradually realizes he's changing from the inside-out, showing signs of possession and posing a threat to himself and those around him, including his daughter Ellie (Ella Anderson).

There's just about an even split of things that work and things that don't work in The Possession of Michael King, and the things that don't work mostly don't work because they're crutches and cliché that have been used ad infinitum rather than because they don't work within the film's context. Yet even when they don't work, they at least perform a necessary task for the movie, and the movie asks nothing more of them. For example, Director David Jung's film sometimes incorporates the big, sudden sound effects -- those screechy, ear-piercing Horror movie staples -- and sudden "jump" imagery to quality effect within the film's context, yet they stand apart because other movies have made use of the same method over the years, and frequently to lesser result. Once or twice such instances feel force-fed into the film to earn a cheap scare, but the picture is frequently more concerned with atmospheric chills and securing its most frightening moments from the slow physical and mental degradation of its character rather than sudden jolts of energy.

Michael's journey from grieving husband to curious student and from amateur filmmaker to full-on possession victim is well done both in terms of visual progression and dramatic involvement. Fortunately there are no scenes in which Michael floats over the bed with limbs limp or runs around on all fours like an insect with his head twisted around 180 degrees. That, at least, keeps the focus more on the dramatic side of the story and less on "shock" visuals that have all but lost their meaning over the years. And even the movie at its best doesn't always work, but at least there's a sincerity to it, an integrity that lets the audience in on the little secret needs of story progression. It makes no move to define itself with cliché, just to use it as a necessary evil to bring about the true evil that lurks behind.

Indeed, the film is rather enjoyable once it gets rolling and particularly as it moves beyond a rather sluggish and structurally repetitive middle act that sees the character undergo the beginnings of his transformation and slowly come to realize that there's something wrong. It's here where the bulk of the retread pieces are to be found, and it's no surprise, then, that the stretch with the least amount of original content is where it strugglers the most. The film's first act is a success of character set-up and film direction, and its third act is a legitimately creepy, bloody, and frightening take on demonic possession, much more effective than the drivel that comes from most any of the tired Paranormal Activity films. Where the film benefits the most is in its lead performance. Shane Johnson gives a spirited performance, pardon the pun, and feels legitimately transformed by the end, a true victim of his own making and a character of some depth with plenty of room for dramatic analysis when it's all said and done. Is he truly a victim of an experiment gone wrong, or is there maybe some morbid satisfaction that comes with his deterioration, perhaps some sort of self-inflicted punishment for his role in his wife's death? The end scene can be interpreted to hint towards that, helping to continue the build-up of the film's secondary character, which is Michael's spirit that sometimes seems to be in some sort of off-camera conflict with his body, and not just considering the demonic possession. The film is a playground of richly subtle pieces ripe for deeper analysis, which is really about all anyone can ask of a movie of this sort.

The Possession of Michael King Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Possession of Michael King arrives on Blu-ray with a good 1080p transfer. The image is sourced from higher end cameras that are several steps above the normal low-grade sources often seen in "found footage" type films. First, image clarity is generally outstanding and details are strong. Whether skin textures -- both natural lines and the gory aftermath of deep cuts -- or clothing lines or general background details, the transfer presents the viewer with a clear, well defined view of the entire frame. Colors are satisfactory, whether talking about green grasses or bloody reds. Black levels are fairly strong with only a slight waver back and forth between crush and excess brightness.

The Possession of Michael King Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Possession of Michael King scares up an excellent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Those shrieking, high-pitched "Horror" sound effects are presented with striking stage presence, a piercing, skin-tingling sort of aggression that, if nothing else, puts the sound system through its paces. The track features no shortage of well-defined surround effects. Beyond basic environmental elements there's a plethora of loud and spooky audio effects that pull the listener into the middle of the madness. Dialogue delivery is focused and accurate in its center channel delivery.

The Possession of Michael King Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of The Possession of Michael King contains no supplemental content. A DVD and a UV digital copy code are included in the case.

The Possession of Michael King Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Possession of Michael King doesn't quite reach the same level of success as another of its "possession/transformation" contemporaries in Afflicted, but it comes close. Despite a few necessary and a few unnecessary tussles with tired genre cliché, the movie works surprisingly well in total, sandwiching a strong first act and an incredible third around a lethargic middle. It's well acted and nicely photographed, not to mention complex in key visuals but generally simplistic in terms of delivery. This is a credible Horror picture that may not redefine its genre but that does nudge it in a different, and better, direction. Anchor Bay's featureless Blu-ray offers solid video and excellent audio. Recommended.