Possum (2018)

Matthew Holness is likely best known to you as Garth Merenghi; author, dream weaver, and visionary. So after reducing us to laughing hyenas through the mere (yet near perfect) six episodes of Garth Merenghi's Darkplace (2004), Holness has performed something of a U-turn on comedy for his first feature length film as director, with this chilling and incredibly creepy tale of a puppeteer. Sean Harris, a frankly sensational actor, plays said puppeteer Philip, who returns to his childhood home seemingly to destroy a terrifying looking spider like marionette, that appears to be spooking him. Compounding matters are past indiscretions that haunt him, some words thrown at him by locals suggest that he might be guilty of some horrific past crimes (especially as local kids begin to go missing after his arrival back in the town). It doesn't help that the marionette refuses to accept its discardment. Also hampering his existence and living in his childhood home is his decrepit Uncle, Maurice; an excellent turn by Alun Armstrong, whose presence is frequently difficult to attribute to reality or Philip's memories. Possum is set in a remote looking part of Norfolk, and Holness shoots it in a style that pays homage to atmospheric horror films of the Seventies, but also nods to the more modern British folk horror portrayed by Ben Wheatley in Kill List (2011) and A Field in England (2013). Holness brings plenty of his own flair to proceedings though, and instead of aiming for cheap jump scares, employs a much more subtle approach, achieving a truly chilling and uncomfortable aura, similar to Robert Eggers' The Witch (2015). Harris' performance was worthy of awards, although with Possum receiving such a small release that was never going to happen; but Holness (who hasn't directed anything since) proves his flexibility in conquering two wildly differing genres and media forms. To produce Darkplace (which admittedly is clearly the work of someone who knows and loves his horror) and follow it up with something this chilling and, at times, nasty, is truly impressive, and we should be very much looking forward to whatever he turns out next. 8.2/10