The Possessed (1977 film)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Possessed is a 1977 American made-for-television supernatural horror film directed by Jerry Thorpe and written by John Sacret Young. It stars James Farentino, Claudette Nevins, Eugene Roche, Harrison Ford, Ann Dusenberry, Diana Scarwid, Joan Hackett, P. J. Soles, and Dinah Manoff. The story follows a former priest who becomes an exorcist and returns to battle a Satanic force threatening a Catholic girls’ school in Salem, Oregon.

Produced by Warner Bros. Television, The Possessed was originally conceived as a pilot for a TV series about exorcisms. Filming took place in Portland, Oregon in January 1977, mainly on the Reed College campus, with additional scenes at Holladay Park Hospital. The film premiered on NBC on May 1, 1977 and has a running time of 74 minutes.

Plot: A string of mysterious fires and supernatural events strikes the Helen Page School as it prepares to go coed. Ex-priest Kevin Leahy is brought back to life to confront the evil. After dramatic confrontations in the school, Leahy sacrifices himself in a pool fire, the demonic threat is driven away, and the school is able to resume graduation with the headmistress Ms. Gelson appearing recovered.

Cast includes James Farentino, Claudette Nevins, Eugene Roche, Harrison Ford, Ann Dusenberry, Diana Scarwid, Joan Hackett, P. J. Soles, and Dinah Manoff.

Reception and release: Initial reviews were largely negative, though some later critics praised its atmosphere and performances for a TV movie. Harrison Ford’s rising fame after Star Wars helped keep interest in the film.

Home media: The Possessed was released on DVD by the Warner Archive Collection on March 23, 2009.