Exclusives
Exclusive: The Dibbuk Box Will Be Opened Again With ‘The Possession 2’
I didn’t really like Lionsgate and Ghost House’s The Possession, Ole Bornedal’s 2012 haunter that was based on the true story of the Jewish Dibbuk box. I may have disliked the flick, but the ratings on Netflix and various VOD channels show that the general viewing audience dug the flick. Maybe coupled with that, and the fact that it has grossed over $75 million worldwide has to do with the following scoop.
While Raimi has openly acknowledged that he could see a sequel in the future (Aug. 31), we’ve learned that a second Jewish exorcism will eventually take place. CBS Films’ The Last Exorcism Part II isn’t performing as strongly as the studio had hoped, making only an estimated $3 million on Friday, but that doesn’t mean its longevity won’t be successful. These “low budget” horror films are incredibly fruitful, and building on franchises is hotter than ever (see Paranormal, Sinister, Insidious, Last Exorcism, etc.). The makers behind The Possession hope to jump into the fold and turn their exorcism film into their own franchise.
Good Universe, who has a hand in Universal’s Oldboy reboot, is part of the development process; although, we’re told they don’t even have a writer attached yet. To say we’re breaking this news early is an understatement. But rest assured, The Possession 2 is coming.
The 2012 film, originally titled Dibbuk Box, was the story of how one family must unite in order to survive the wrath of an unspeakable evil. In it, “Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie Brenek (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm when their youngest daughter Em becomes oddly obsessed with an antique wooden box she purchased at a yard sale. But as Em’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, the couple fears the presence of a malevolent force in their midst, only to discover that the box was built to contain a dibbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits and ultimately devours its human host.“
A hospital stay grows more nerve-frazzling when memory loss distorts reality in our exclusive clip from This Tempting Madness, inspired by a true story.
The mind-bending psychological thriller will be released in select theaters and on demand on June 12 via Vertical.
Simone Ashley (“Bridgerton”) stars as Mia, who awakens from a coma, grievously injured, her memory fractured. As she puts the pieces of her past together, she starts to question her own actions and her perception of reality.
In This Tempting Madness, “Mia awakens from a coma grievously injured, her memory fractured. As she puts the pieces of her past together, she starts to question her own actions, and her perception of reality.”
Jennifer E. Montgomery makes her feature directorial debut from a script she co-wrote with director of photography Andrew Davis, inspired by Montgomery’s first-hand experience with tragedy involving her best friend.
“Months before the incident, there were signals that her world was unraveling,” says Montgomery. “I could feel the pressure building, though I didn’t know what form it would take. I never could have known what violence would come, and I certainly never imagined making a film about it.”
Austin Stowell (“NCIS: Origins”), Suraj Sharma (Happy Death Day 2U), Mojean Aria (Reminiscence), Amol Shah (“For All Mankind”), and Zenobia Shroff (“Ms. Marvel”) round out the cast.
Smoke Jumper Films and Mango Monster Productions produce in association with Catchlight Studios (Heretic, The Blackening).
This Tempting Madness is rated R for “language, violence/bloody images, and brief sexuality.”