"Rosemary's Baby" helped usher in a sequence of religious-oriented thrillers, frequently taking place in an urban setting. Here, MacLaine is a well-off divorcée and mother of two who is pleased to have her brother King back from an extended stay in Tangiers. She is, however, disappointed that he has befriended a rather seedy-sounding Puerto Rican and moved into the man's apartment. Before her eyes, King begins to take on the reckless, crude ways of the new friend to the point where it seems as if the brother she knew is being almost fully eclipsed by the new persona. Things get even worse when someone close to her is discovered brutally murdered and MacLaine has to start worrying about the safety and welfare of herself and her children while wondering what will become of King. MacLaine plays a rather spoiled society type and one can see the early seeds of haughtiness that she would bring to later roles like Aurora in "Terms of Endearment." She sports some seriously long hair here along with some kicky 70s fashions including a couple of audacious fur hats and fur-trimmed coats. It's an unusual type of role for her in an uncommon genre and that makes it interesting to see. King isn't really given a chance to establish much of a character before the title event takes place (the title, of course, explains much of what is happening right up front, rendering some of the build up pointless!) He and MacLaine share a fairly unusual chemistry, which almost has an incestuous tinge to it, capped off by his shower scene, which includes frontal nudity through a mottled shower door. (King, at this stage of his career, had a great deal of trouble keeping clothes on!) Other cast members include Trentham as a glamorous girlfriend of King's, Powell as his concerned therapist, Colon as MacLaine's put upon maid and Hordern as Powell's businessman husband. There's a unique tone to the film and it's one that won't appeal to everyone. There's a starkness and bleakness to it, despite the sometimes-decadent settings. A couple of party sequences afford a fun glimpse of the styles that were then popular (in clothing and décor!) One notable scene takes place in the apartment of a Puerto Rican spiritualist who is trying to exorcise King's personality invader. Another involves MacLaine navigating a dicey neighborhood in her furry finery. Most memorable of all, however, is the finale in which MacLaine and her children are exposed to the darkest aspects of King's new persona, which is not only sadistic and violent, but also memorably perverse! A twist ending may annoy as many viewers as it entertains.
Review of The Possession of Joel Delaney
