The horror movie Jenna Ortega said was “unlike anything I’d ever seen before”
Beginning her career as a child actor and Disney star, as soon as Jenna Ortega reached adulthood, she knew she had to make a drastic change – she could keep appearing in projects that were no longer fulfilling, or she could become a scream queen, a modern horror icon.
Ortega stepped into the role of a horror aficionado in 2022 when she opted to star in four horror movies, most notably Ti West’s ‘70s slasher homage X and the fifth instalment in the Scream franchise. Yet, the biggest project she took on that year was easily Wednesday, playing the titular Addams Family member in Tim Burton’s acclaimed Netflix series.
With a third season on the way, it seems like Ortega won’t be giving up on the gothic role anytime soon, and besides, it appears that Burton will continue to work with her for some time – she’s essentially his Gen Z answer to Winona Ryder… I mean, she even played Ryder’s daughter in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Reprising her role as Tara Carpenter in Scream VI in 2023, it’s clear that Ortega is dedicated to the world of horror, and embodying Wednesday for so long has clearly had something to do with it – immersing herself in a world of Burton-esque horror and dark, gothic clothing, it’s only natural that this has come to influence her life off-screen, revealing to InStyle, “I do think that Wednesday changed my taste a lot, I have a hard time getting her off of me, at least clothing-wise.”
It seems like her influence has extended beyond clothes, though, because in interviews, Ortega has often revealed a deep love of horror movies, citing the likes of ‘80s hits like Prom Night and modern classics such as Robert Eggers’ The Witch as some of her favourites, but then there’s one movie which she considers “unlike anything I’d ever seen before.”
She was talking about Possession, Andrzej Żuławski’s terrifying divorce drama, which puts a pretty harrowing and bloody spin on the disintegration of a relationship. With Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill playing a couple whose marriage turns incredibly violent and even murderous, Possession is a really intense watch, and not only that – it even takes us into fantasy territory with the introduction of a strange creature. It really is a unique film, and one that certainly never leaves you.
“I really love Possession. It was actually a recommendation from Mikey Madison on the Scream set. Not only is it hauntingly beautiful, but also unlike anything I’d ever seen before,” Ortega told Rotten Tomatoes.
Adding, “I love watching a film and getting some kind of adrenaline out of it – that’s when I feel it’s done its job, when a film inspires you and gives you a bunch of ideas.”
Possession was such an intense filming experience that Adjani reportedly even tried to commit suicide afterwards, finding the role so exhausting and traumatising – in one iconic scene, she screams and brings up strange liquids as she smashes groceries against the wall of a subway station, writhing around on the floor.
It’s an astounding performance, and one that has no doubt left Ortega feeling inspired.
