Jenna Ortega Says She "Really Loves" This 45-Year-Old Horror Classic: "Unlike Anything I'd Ever Seen"

Jenna Ortega started her career as a child actor and Disney star but as soon as she became an adult, however, she made a decisive turn toward horror. Today, she is a modern scream queen and the face of a new generation of horror film fans.

The actress's most high-profile project was, of course, Tim Burton's Wednesday series. Ortega admits that immersion in Burton's gothic world changed her tastes in clothing and film.

Jenna Ortega Has Nothing but Praise for Andrzej Żuławski's 'Possession'

In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Ortega named Possession as one of her favorite horror movies – a European classic from 45 years ago that left a lasting impression on her. The actress said:

“I really love Possession. It was actually a recommendation from Mikey Madison, on the Scream set. Not only is it hauntingly beautiful, but also unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

I love watching a film and getting some kind of adrenalin out of it – that's when I feel it's done its job, when a film inspires you and gives you a bunch of ideas.”

What Is 'Possession' About?

The story unfolds in West Berlin. After a long assignment, Mark, a secret service officer, returns home to his wife, Anna, and their ten-year-old son. However, instead of a warm family evening, he is met with a confession from his wife: she has been unfaithful.

Mark hires a private detective to track down Anna's lover, but it soon becomes clear that her secret is much darker, stranger, and more terrifying.

What begins as a family drama about a troubled marriage gradually evolves into something entirely different. Żuławski blends genres – it's body horror, pulp detective fiction, a psychological thriller, and a dark phantasmagoria.

Nearly Half a Century Later, 'Possession' Remains a Unique Phenomenon in Cinema

Polish avant-garde director Andrzej Żuławski made his only English-language movie amid profound personal tragedy. Grieving his divorce from actress Małgorzata Braunek, Żuławski channeled his pain, jealousy, and despair into the film.

The result was so powerful and controversial that Possession was banned in several countries. Decades later, it has entered the pantheon of the most shocking movies about relationships between men and women.

Possession is not a classic horror film, but rather a reflection on the differences between male and female obsession and an illustration of hysteria in its most extreme form.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Possession'?

• Possession has 87% from critics and 76% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.2/10.

• On Letterboxd, Possession scored 4.0/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Possession'?

Possession is available to stream on Shudder and AMC+.