The Possessed

The Possessed

Year: 1977

Runtime: 76 mins

Language: English

Director: Jerry Thorpe

Horror

A former priest, now an exorcist, battles the satanic forces that are threatening the students at a girls school.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Possessed yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Possessed (1977)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Possessed (1977). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Last Updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:30

Main Characters – The Possessed (1977)

Meet the key characters of The Possessed (1977), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Paul Winjam (Harrison Ford)

The central figure around whom the unfolding conflict revolves. He must navigate escalating tension and conflicting loyalties as events intensify. His resolve and judgment are tested as the mystery deepens.

❄️ Drama 🔎 Mystery

Louise Gelson (Joan Hackett)

A key supporting character who interacts with the central figure and influences the direction of the story. Her perspective challenges other characters and adds emotional nuance. She helps reveal the social dynamics at play within the narrative.

🎭 Drama 🕵️ Mystery

Lane (Diana Scarwid)

A secondary character who contributes to the film’s emotional stakes. Lane’s presence spurs interactions that illuminate the central tensions. Her involvement deepens the sense of interpersonal complexity.

💼 Drama 🧠

Kevin Leahy (James Farentino)

An authority figure whose involvement adds procedural elements to the plot. His decisions interact with the protagonist’s goals, influencing how tensions unfold. He represents another viewpoint in the unfolding conflict.

🗝️ Thriller 🗺️

Sgt. Taplinger (Eugene Roche)

A police sergeant who engages with the main characters and reinforces the sense of risk present in the story. His presence brings official oversight and adds pressure to resolve the conflict. He contributes to the film’s tension and pace.

👁️ Suspense 🧭

Weezie Sumner (Ann Dusenberry)

A friend or family member whose concerns intersect with the central crisis. Weezie’s reactions reflect the personal impact of the events and broaden the emotional scope of the narrative. She contributes to the social fabric surrounding the protagonists.

💬 Relationships 👥

Celia (Dinah Manoff)

A character who participates in the web of relationships shaping the plot. Celia’s interactions reveal different facets of trust and loyalty within the group. Her role adds to the film’s layered social dynamics.

🎒 Mystery 👁️

Ellen Sumner (Claudette Nevins)

A family-oriented figure whose concerns intersect with the central events. Ellen contributes to the story’s human element, highlighting the cost of the unfolding tension. Her stance reflects the broader impact on loved ones.

🧩 Puzzle 🕵️

Marty (P. J. Soles)

An associate whose presence adds conflict or suspicion to the narrative. Marty’s interactions help propel the plot and raise questions about loyalties. He serves as a catalyst for turning points in the story.

🔔 Intrigue 🎬

Alex (Carol Jones)

A student-like figure whose involvement heightens the tension within the group. Alex’s role underscores the themes of youth, curiosity, and risk. The character’s choices contribute to the film’s forward momentum.

🎯 Tension 🧪

Biology Student (Stephanie Barton-Farcas) (uncredited)

An identifiable but minor participant whose presence adds texture to the setting. The character functions as part of the larger community surrounding the central figures. Their brief involvement reinforces the film’s sense of a shared environment.

🔬 Science 🧪

Lawrence Bame (Lawrence Bame)

A smaller role that contributes to the ensemble dynamic. Lawrence Bame’s presence helps flesh out the cast and supports the narrative’s social context. The character interacts with others to enrich the story’s texture.

🏛️ Drama 🧭

James R. Parkes (James R. Parkes)

A character who contributes to the plot’s mystery and investigation. Parkes interacts with others to reveal clues and deepen the sense of tension. His involvement ties together various threads of the story.

🕵️ Mystery 🧭

Susan Walden (Susan Walden)

A character whose presence underscores the social dynamics at play. Susan’s actions and reactions reflect the broader emotional landscape of the film. Her role helps connect disparate narrative strands.

👥 Social 💬

Barry (Ethelinn Block)

A character who represents a specific facet of the community within the story. Barry’s involvement adds to the ensemble feel and helps populate the world of the film. The role contributes to the film’s realism and texture.

💡 Insight 🕯️ Suspense

Catherine Cunneff (Catherine Cunneff)

A character whose presence contributes to the film’s social backdrop. Catherine’s interactions with others help flesh out the narrative’s interpersonal network. The role adds nuance to how characters relate under pressure.

🗣️ Voice 🔬

Last Updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:30

Major Themes – The Possessed (1977)

Explore the central themes of The Possessed (1977), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Mystery

The film builds tension through unknown motives and ambiguous events surrounding the central characters. Suspicions and hidden agendas drive the narrative, forcing characters to question what is real. The atmosphere remains tense as clues surface and misdirections unfold.

🔮 Possession

A sense of control or influence beyond ordinary means threads through the story, challenging characters to resist unseen pressures. Fear and belief shape decisions, blurring the line between rationality and superstition. The plot centers on how possession or coercion affects trust and relationships.

🧭 Moral Dilemma

Characters face difficult choices that test loyalty, duty, and personal ethics. The narrative probes how far someone will go to protect themselves or others. Consequences of decisions ripple through the cast, highlighting competing responsibilities.

Last Updated: December 06, 2025 at 16:30

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Supernatural Faith Battles like in The Possessed

Stories where religious figures confront supernatural evil in a battle of wills.Explore movies like The Possessed where the central conflict pits religious faith against demonic forces. If you enjoyed the intense exorcism and the thematic struggle between good and evil, this thread features similar horror stories with priests, exorcists, and supernatural threats that challenge belief systems.

supernaturaldemonicreligioussinisteroppressivedreadunsettlingfatalistic

Narrative Summary

Movies in this thread follow a linear, often straightforward narrative where a supernatural threat emerges, requiring the intervention of a specialized religious expert. The plot escalates through a series of confrontations, testing the protagonist's resolve and faith, and builds toward a climactic, intense ritual or battle to banish the evil, often at a great personal cost.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the thematic clash between institutional religion and supernatural evil. They consistently feature a dark tone, high intensity, heavy emotional weight centered on existential dread, and a steady pacing that builds toward a definitive, often costly, confrontation.

Haunted Institution Stories like The Possessed

Tales of malevolent forces preying on the inhabitants of secluded communities.Discover more movies like The Possessed where a secluded community or institution is besieged by a supernatural threat. If you liked the oppressive atmosphere of a girls' school under demonic siege, this thread collects similar tales of hidden evil within hospitals, schools, and remote facilities.

oppressiveanxiousclaustrophobicsinisterunsettlingdreadinstitutionalhidden evil

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves the introduction of a threat into a closed community, followed by a series of unexplained, sinister events that escalate the fear and paranoia among the inhabitants. An investigation ensues, revealing a hidden past or secret that fuels the evil, culminating in a confrontation that threatens to destroy the institution and everyone in it.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific setting-driven horror vibe: the corruption of a safe space. They are united by an anxious, oppressive mood, a steady pacing that builds dread, the theme of hidden evil being exposed, and a dark tone where the sanctuary itself becomes a trap.

Unlock the Full Story of The Possessed

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Possessed in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Possessed is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Possessed Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Possessed, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Possessed Summary

The Possessed Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Possessed with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Possessed Timeline

More About The Possessed

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Possessed: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Possessed

Similar Movies to The Possessed

Discover movies like The Possessed that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.