The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Waris Hussein

Writers:

Irene Kamp (writer)
Matt Robinson (writer)

Release Date:

24 May 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A woman begins to suspect that her brother is possessed by a voodoo spirit. |

Plot Keywords:

Voodoo | Possessed | Brother | New York City | Infant Nudity

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Norah Benson
Perry King	...	Joel Delaney
Michael Hordern	...	Justin
David Elliott	...	Peter Benson
Lisa Kohane	...	Carrie Benson
Barbara Trentham	...	Sherry
Lovelady Powell	...	Erika
Edmundo Rivera Álvarez	...	Don Pedro
Teodorina Bello	...	Mrs. Pererz
Robert Burr	...	Ted Benson
Miriam Colon	...	Veronica
Ernesto Gonzalez	...	Young Man at Seance
Aukie Herger	...	Mr. Perez
Earle Hyman	...	Charles (as Earl Hyman)
Marita Lindholm	...	Marta Benson

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:18 (1973) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1973) | UK:X | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Haworth Productions

Trivia:

The film was bashed by critics upon release because of the disturbing scene where a young boy is forced to strip. In a 2004 Entertainment Weekly article author Stephen King cited the movie while addressing issues of censorship. King said had The Possession of Joel Delaney been released today it would be rated NC-17 for that scene alone.

Dull and lacklustre possession horror

The Possession of Joel Delaney is interesting for the fact that it's a horror film starring Shirley Maclaine, but the interesting elements end there unfortunately. The film focuses on Maclaine's character and her brother Joel Delaney. Joel begins acting strangely after a phone call and she decides to take him in to help him get over it. However, strange events continue to occur and she soon discovers a link between her brother and a serial killer who terrorised the city years earlier. The film certainly could have been interested and indeed there are films with similar plots that are really good; but this one just doesn't have enough excitement and the fact that it's pretty much impossible to care for any of the main characters doesn't really help it. The plot takes in the idea of mixing two different cultures but it never really comes off, mostly because it's too hard to care about it. The acting is mostly lacklustre and even the central actress doesn't stand out, which is a shame considering she is the only interesting thing about the film. It drones on for about an hour and a half (seems like longer) and builds up to the ending, which is not interesting and rather distasteful. I have no problems with bad taste, but it just doesn't fit here and feels included only to provide a talking point. This is a film best left in obscurity!