Overview
A woman's descent into obsession leads to a chilling exploration of love and madness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- paranoid
- melodramatic
- classic noir night
- psychological drama marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Joan Crawford’s commanding performance and the film’s imaginative noir expressionism, while noting that its psychological treatment can feel cold, overstated, and clinically muddled.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Louise’s account to Dr. Willard interweaves remembered events with possible delusions, leaving the status of key experiences uncertain.
The black-and-white cinematography and shadowy imagery draw on German expressionism to visualize Louise’s paranoia and mental fracture.
Louise’s secret relationship with David turns from casual intimacy into consuming fixation after he attempts to end it.
The hospital ward and Dr. Willard’s sessions provide the frame through which Louise’s preceding year is pieced together.
Films like Possessed, and why
Gaslight
psychological film noir centered on obsession, unstable perception, and a morally fraught woman
The Woman in the Window
expressionist noir atmosphere, romantic fixation, and a protagonist whose mental state shapes the narrative
Leave Her to Heaven
dark melodrama about obsessive desire, paranoia, and destructive romantic entanglement
The Snake Pit
classic noir treatment of psychological disturbance, guilt, and blurred reality
Movie Details
- Director
- Curtis Bernhardt
- Release Date
- 1947-05-29
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (88)
Cast
- Joan Crawford
- Van Heflin
- Raymond Massey
- Geraldine Brooks
- Stanley Ridges
- John Ridgely
- Moroni Olsen
- Peter Miles
- Erskine Sanford
- Jakob Gimpel
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Possessed about?
- A psychologically fractured nurse recounts a year of forbidden desire, jealousy, and possible violence while doctors struggle to separate memory from delusion.
- What is Possessed like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Possessed as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Possessed violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Possessed as moderate.
- What did critics think of Possessed?
- Critics broadly praised Joan Crawford’s commanding performance and the film’s imaginative noir expressionism, while noting that its psychological treatment can feel cold, overstated, and clinically muddled.
- Which films are like Possessed?
- Films with a similar feel include Gaslight, The Woman in the Window, Leave Her to Heaven, and The Snake Pit.
- How long is Possessed?
- Possessed runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Possessed?
- In United States, Possessed is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
