Wikipedia article
'The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver' is a 1977 American made-for-television horror film directed by Gordon Hessler and starring Karen Black, George Hamilton, Robert F. Lyons, Lucille Benson, and Jean Allison. The teleplay was written by Richard Matheson.[ The film first aired on NBC in 1977.]
Plot
Its plot follows a bored housewife who takes on an alternate persona that starts wreaking havoc on her life. Karen Black plays the title role, a dowdy, downtrodden housewife plagued by recurring nightmares of funerals, black flowers, fires, and a woman called Sandy. Seeking an escape from her stifling lifestyle and dull husband, who only wishes her to have a baby, Black dons a low-cut red blouse, blonde wig, garish makeup, and a new identity. She is also compelled to buy a house in a beach community where it would appear a woman who looks just like her once resided - before her tragic demise.
It turns out that the woman Black pretends to be may actually existand may have more than a passing knowledge of the occult.
Critical Reception
According to John Stanley, "Director Gordon Hessler builds the mystery with a deft camera, creating ambiguities to intrigue us: Is Black undergoing possession, reincarnation or what? Supernatural mood blends with psychological thrills."[John Stanley. 'Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again.' (4th revised ed). Pacifica, CA: Creatures at Large Press, 1994, p. 373]
Cast
Critical response
Hal Erickson of AllMovie awarded the film four out of five stars, but noted that Hessler's direction "muddles" Matheson's "perfectly coherent script."
References
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