Horror movie that was banned in the UK due to incredibly gruesome scenes now on Amazon Prime
Horror fans will be pleased to know a film so disturbing it was banned in the UK can now be streamed on Amazon.
Released in 1981, this psychological horror film was banned in both the UK and US for years after its release, with the original 118 minute directors' cut only being passed by the British Board of Film Classification in 1999.
Polish director Andrzej Żuławski took the reins with this film, which is filmed and set in West Berlin in the early 1980s.
It follows Mark (Sam Neill), an international spy, and his wife Anna (Isabelle Adjani) after he returns from an espionage mission.
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Anna mysteriously asks for a divorce, giving little to no reasoning.
The two have a son, Bob, and Mark agrees to give custody of him and ownership of the apartment over to her.
Mark and Anna go through numerous different emotions following the situation, as Mark becomes obsessed with why she would want to leave him as he still loves her, while Anna does everything to get away from her relationship with Mark.
As the two make several disturbing discoveries about each other, the couple's encounters become more violent and emotionally driven.
Eventually, Anna's disturbing, gruesome and terrifying true obsession is revealed.
The movie is called Possession, and you can view the trailer here:
The film was shown at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, where Isabelle Adjani won Best Actress for her role in Possession.
As well as this, the movie itself was nominated for the Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, though it eventually lost out to Man of Iron.
Possession did not do well critically following its release, only garnering $1.1 million (£873,000) at the box office in the US, albeit with a heavily edited cut shown in cinemas, against a budget of $2.4 million (£1.9 million).
However, over the years, as the full cut was released in more and more countries, it has become somewhat of a cult classic.
The themes of the film are praised, as it explores the subjects of mental health, relationships, and the political background of Berlin.
In the decades following its release, fans have began to praise Possession and how creative it was with the horror genre, as several have taken to X to share their thoughts.
One user commented: "It is pure artistry, a beautiful and terrifying masterpiece that refuses to let go once it has you in its tentacles"
Another posted: "So many uncomfortable, sinister and horrifying moments mixed with Isabelle Adjani's incredible performance!"
And a third said: "Probably the greatest performance by an actress in a movie."
Despite all the backlash when it came out, Possession can now be streamed in full on Amazon Prime Video.
Topics: Entertainment, Film, Amazon Prime
Joshua Nair