The Possession (2012) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The elderly woman at the start was the previous owner of the dybbuk box. She was aware of the evil trapped inside and attempted to destroy it using holy water and a hammer before the demon could escape and possess her. However, the dybbuk overpowered her before she could complete the ritual, leaving her unconscious and allowing the cycle of possession to continue with the next victim.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show the woman's frantic preparation with religious items, hinting at her knowledge of the box's dark nature.

• dybbuk box
• elderly woman
• possession
• hebrew box
• yard sale origin

Tzadok explains that there are three distinct stages of dybbuk possession. The first stage involves the spirit influencing the host's mind and emotions, causing behavioral changes. The second stage sees the demon gaining physical control, leading to violent outbursts and supernatural events. The third and final stage is the complete merging of the dybbuk with its host, where the spirit fully inhabits the person's body with no hope of separation.

Foreshadowing: Em's progression from mood swings to physical aggression to the horrifying mouth appearance mirrors these stages.

• three stages possession
• tzadok
• dybbuk
• exorcism
• spirit possession

The teacher ignored warnings and attempted to open the dybbuk box despite knowing it was dangerous. The malevolent spirit Abyzou, trapped inside for decades, violently defended itself by throwing the teacher out of a window. This demonstrates that the box's contents will kill anyone who tries to open it without proper knowledge or protection.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scene where Em's father warns against opening the box establishes its deadly nature.

• teacher death
• box opening
• dybbuk box
• school incident
• violent death

During the hospital exorcism, Tzadok performs a ritual to force the dybbuk out of Em. However, when Em escapes and runs to the morgue, Clyde pursues her. The ritual's power redirects toward Clyde as the next available host, allowing the dybbuk to leap from Em into Clyde's body. This unexpected transfer traps the demon inside an adult male rather than remaining in the child.

Foreshadowing: Tzadok warns that the ritual is dangerous and unpredictable, foreshadowing complications.

• clyde possessed
• exorcism
• hospital scene
• dybbuk transfer
• tzadok ritual

After the exorcism successfully returns the dybbuk to the box, Tzadok drives away with it in Clyde's vehicle. However, a truck collides with his car, causing a crash. The final shot shows the box resting eerily a short distance from the wreckage, suggesting the evil has not been destroyed but merely continues its cycle of seeking new victims.

Foreshadowing: The recurring motif of the box throughout the film emphasizes it is the true vessel of evil.

• box car crash
• ending
• tzadok crash
• dybbuk escaped
• sequel hint

When Em pried open the box, she released the imprisoned dybbuk spirit Abyzou, who began possessing her. The presence of the ring she wore, combined with the act of opening the container, allowed the demon to attach itself to her. As the spirit gradually took control, Em experienced extreme mood swings, violent outbursts, and eventually full possession.

Foreshadowing: The box whispers to Em before she opens it, indicating the demon was already reaching out.

• em behavior change
• possession symptoms
• ring wearing
• dybbuk attachment
• child possessed

Abyzou is a Jewish demon known as 'the taker of children.' According to Tzadok's explanation, this particular dybbuk specifically targets young victims because they are more vulnerable to possession. The demon feeds on innocence and uses children as vessels to continue its existence. The box was created in the 1920s specifically to trap this dislocated spirit.

Foreshadowing: The elderly woman's desperate attempt to destroy the box suggests its long history of causing harm.

• abyzou demon
• taker of children
• jewish demon
• dybbuk name
• possession target

When Brett attempted to transport Em, she stared at him menacingly and his mouth began bleeding profusely. This was a display of the dybbuk's growing supernatural power - the demon could cause physical harm to others through pure intent. It was a warning to stay away and demonstrated that Em (or rather, the entity inside her) had acquired terrifying abilities beyond psychological manipulation.

Foreshadowing: Earlier supernatural events like moths and whispers established the dybbuk's increasing power.

• brett bleeding
• em stare
• supernatural attack
• boyfriend injury
• possession powers

The dybbuk box had been passed through multiple owners over decades since the 1920s. The elderly woman at the film's beginning was the latest owner who acquired it and tried to destroy it. After her son found her unconscious, the box likely ended up at the yard sale, where it was purchased by Clyde for Em - continuing the cycle of the demon seeking new victims.

Foreshadowing: The woman mentions the box has been around for a long time, indicating its extensive history.

• yard sale box
• antique box
• previous owners
• box history
• clyde purchase

The invisible woman Em described seeing in the box was the physical manifestation of the dybbuk Abyzou. Unlike typical ghost appearances, the dybbuk appeared specifically to Em because she was the chosen vessel for possession. This vision occurred during the second stage of possession when the demon was attempting to communicate with and ultimately merge with its host.

Foreshadowing: Em telling Clyde 'I'm special' indicates the dybbuk selected her for a specific purpose.

• invisible woman
• em visions
• dybbuk appearance
• spirit communication
• chosen child

Facing the existential threat of losing their daughter united Clyde and Stephanie in a way their divorce had prevented. During the hospital confrontation with the supernatural evil, they had to work together and rely on each other for survival. This shared traumatic experience reminded them of their bond as parents and as partners, leading them to rekindle their relationship despite their separation.

Foreshadowing: Their initial conflict throughout the film centered on parenting disagreements about the box.

• clyde stephanie reconciliation
• family healing
• divorce
• reunited couple
• aftermath