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{{Infobox film
| name           = The Possession of Hannah Grace
| image          = HannahGracePossession.png
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Diederik van Rooijen]]
| producer       = {{ubl|[[Todd Garner]]|Sean Robins}}
| writer         = Brian Sieve
| starring       = {{ubl|[[Shay Mitchell]]|[[Grey Damon]]|Kirby Johnson|[[Stana Katic]]}}
| music          = [[John Frizzell (composer)|John Frizzell]]
| cinematography = Lennert Hillege
| editing        = {{ubl|Stanley Kolk|Jake York}}
| studio         = {{ubl|[[Screen Gems]]|Broken Road Productions|Spinel Entertainment|Mist Entertainment}}
| distributor    = [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group#Sony Pictures Releasing|Sony Pictures Releasing]]
| released       = {{Film date|2018|11|30|United States}}
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| runtime        = 86 minutes
| budget         = $6–7.7 million<ref name="opening"/><ref name="BOM"/>
| gross = $43 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|title=The Possession of Hannah Grace (2018)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=cadaver.htm|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|publisher=[[IMDb]]|accessdate=April 5, 2019}}</ref>
}}

''The Possession of Hannah Grace'' (released as '''''Cadaver''''' in select international markets) is a 2018 American [[Supernatural horror film|supernatural horror]] [[thriller film]] directed by [[Diederik van Rooijen]] and written by Brian Sieve. The film stars [[Shay Mitchell]], Kirby Johnson, [[Stana Katic]], [[Grey Damon]], and [[Nick Thune]] and was produced by Todd Garner and Sean Robins.<ref name="bloody-disgusting.com">{{cite web |last1=Miska |first1=Brad |date=2018-10-09 |title=Sony Screen Gems Dates 'The Possession of Hannah Grace' and 'The Intruder' - Bloody Disgusting |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3525977/sony-screen-gems-dates-possession-hannah-grace-intruder/ |accessdate=9 October 2018 |website=bloody-disgusting.com}}</ref>

The film was released in the United States on November 30, 2018, by [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group|Sony Pictures Releasing]] under the [[Screen Gems]] label. It received generally negative reviews from critics but was a commercial success, grossing $43 million worldwide against a production budget of $7.7 million.

==Plot==
During an [[exorcism]] ritual, Hannah Grace—possessed by a demonic entity—levitates and nearly kills a priest before her father, Grainger, ends the ritual by suffocating her with a pillow. As he mourns over her body, a fly lands on her hand, and it twitches, suggesting the presence of the demon remains.

Three months later, Megan Reed, a former [[Boston]] police officer struggling with depression and pill addiction following the death of her partner, begins working the night shift at the Boston Metro Hospital [[morgue]]. The morgue is housed in an imposing brutalist-style building (portrayed by [[Boston City Hall]]). On her second shift, Megan refuses entry to a distressed man (later revealed to be Grainger), while shortly thereafter assisting [[Emergency medical technician|EMT]] Randy with receiving the corpse of a young woman—Hannah Grace—who had been stabbed and partially burned in an alley.

As Megan attempts to log the body, her equipment malfunctions, and the corpse's fingerprints return unreadable. Strange events begin to occur, increasing Megan's suspicions. She eventually catches Grainger trying to destroy the body, claiming his daughter is not truly dead and must be cremated. He is restrained and taken into police custody.

Megan's ex-boyfriend, Officer Andrew Kurtz, investigates and confirms that Hannah died three months prior, yet her fingerprints match those recently recorded. Meanwhile, Hannah, reanimated and possessing supernatural abilities, begins killing staff members, including Dave, a security guard, and Megan's friend Lisa, as her body appears to heal itself with each death.

Megan uncovers surveillance footage of Hannah moving through the building and confronts Randy with the evidence, though he is soon killed. Grainger escapes custody and returns to the morgue, explaining that multiple exorcisms failed and the demon was able to continue inhabiting Hannah's corpse, growing stronger by killing others. He reveals that Hannah suffered from depression, which allowed the demon to take hold.

Megan agrees to help Grainger cremate the body, but Hannah reanimates, kills her father, and traps Megan. With the help of Andrew and another guard, Megan escapes and ultimately drags the body to the crematorium. After a final confrontation, Megan succeeds in pushing Hannah into the incinerator, destroying the body.

In the aftermath, Megan reveals she has remained clean for over two months. In the final scene, a fly lands on her mirror reflection, which she quickly swats, suggesting the threat may not be entirely over.

== Cast ==
* [[Shay Mitchell]] as Megan Reed, a troubled ex-cop who takes the graveyard shift in a morgue.
* Kirby Johnson as Hannah Grace, a girl possessed and resurrected by demons.
* [[Grey Damon]] as Andrew Kurtz, a police officer and Megan's ex-boyfriend.
* [[Stana Katic]] as Lisa Roberts, a nurse and Megan's friend.
* [[Louis Herthum]] as Grainger Grace, Hannah Grace's father.
* [[Nick Thune]] as Randy, an EMT and friend of Megan's.
* Jacob Ming-Trent as Ernie Gainor, a security guard at the hospital.
* Max McNamara as Dave, a security guard at the hospital who has a crush on Megan.

==Production==
===Development===
On March 23, 2016, it was announced that [[Screen Gems]] had hired [[Diederik van Rooijen]] to direct a horror thriller titled ''Cadaver'', from a screenplay by Brian Sieve. The project was set to be produced by [[Todd Garner]] and Sean Robins through Broken Road Productions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=Rebecca |date=March 23, 2016 |title=Screen Gems Horror Movie 'Cadaver' Finds Director (Exclusive) |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/screen-gems-horror-movie-cadaver-877539 |accessdate=November 9, 2016 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The film was later retitled ''The Possession of Hannah Grace''.<ref name="bloody-disgusting.com" />

===Casting===
On June 6, 2016, [[Shay Mitchell]] was announced as the lead, cast in the role of Megan Reed. Additional casting was confirmed on October 28, 2016, including [[Stana Katic]], [[Grey Damon]], [[Nick Thune]], Jacob Ming-Trent, Max McNamara, [[Louis Herthum]], and Kirby Johnson.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |date=June 6, 2016 |title='Pretty Little Liars' Star Shay Mitchell Joins 'Cadaver' Horror Movie |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/shay-mitchell-cadaver-pretty-little-liars-1201789934/ |accessdate=November 9, 2016 |work=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |date=October 28, 2016 |title=Stana Katic Scrubs In For Horror Movie 'Cadaver' At Screen Gems |url=https://deadline.com/2016/10/stana-katic-cadaver-horror-movie-shay-mitchell-1201844432/ |accessdate=November 9, 2016 |work=Deadline}}</ref>

===Filming===
[[Principal photography]] began on November 8, 2016, in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]. Key crew included director of photography Lennert Hillege, production designer Paula Loos, and costume designer Deborah Newhall.<ref name="Nov2016CS">{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Chris |date=November 8, 2016 |title=Production Begins on Screen Gems' Cadaver |url=https://comingsoon.net/horror/news/784353-production-begins-on-screen-gems-cadaver |accessdate=November 9, 2016 |work=ComingSoon.net}}</ref> Filming also took place at [[New England Studios]] in [[Devens, Massachusetts|Devens]], Massachusetts.<ref name="Nov2016CS" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gems |first1=Screen |date=November 8, 2016 |title=CADAVER: Horror Thriller Directed by Diederik Van Rooijen, Starring Shay Mitchell, Begins Filming in Boston |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cadaver-horror-thriller-directed-by-diederik-van-rooijen-starring-shay-mitchell-begins-filming-in-boston-300358978.html |accessdate=November 9, 2016 |work=PR Newswire}}</ref> Notably, the film was shot entirely using a [[Sony α7S II]] camera, marking the first feature film to be filmed with a mirrorless full-frame digital camera.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 3, 2018 |title=How "The Possession Of Hannah Grace" Was Made With The Sony α7S II |url=https://alphauniverse.com/stories/how-possession-of-hannah-grace-filmed-with-sony-a7s-ii/ |accessdate=December 4, 2018 |work=Alpha Universe}}</ref>

==Release==
''The Possession of Hannah Grace'' was released in the United States and Canada on November 30, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last=Day-Ramos |first=Dino |date=October 8, 2018 |title=Sony Moves James Gunn Horror 'BrightBurn' To 2019 |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/sony-james-gunn-brightburn-screengems-the-possession-of-hannah-grace-holmes-and-watson-the-intruder-1202478914/ |accessdate=October 10, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In select international markets, including Brazil, Greece, and Israel, the film premiered a day earlier on November 29, 2018.

Sony Pictures released the first official trailer for the film online on October 15, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |title='The Possession Of Hannah Grace' Trailer: Shay Mitchell Battles Her Demons – Literally |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/the-possession-of-hannah-grace-trailer-shay-mitchell-battles-her-demons-literally-1202482816/ |accessdate=October 15, 2018 |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref> The studio reportedly spent approximately $12 million on promotional efforts.<ref name="opening">{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=December 2, 2018 |title='Ralph' Breaking $25M+ 2nd Weekend; 'Grinch' Steals $202M+; 'Hannah Grace' $6M+ In Slow Post Thanksgiving Period – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/the-possession-of-hannah-grace-grabs-625k-in-thursday-night-previews-1202511705/ |accessdate=December 2, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
''The Possession of Hannah Grace'' grossed $14.8 million in the United States and Canada and $28.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $43 million, against a production budget of approximately $7.7 million.<ref name="BOM" />

In the United States and Canada, the film was projected to earn between $3 million and $7 million from 2,065 theaters during its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web |last=Faughnder |first=Ryan |date=November 28, 2018 |title='Ralph' and 'Creed' sequels set to dominate post-Thanksgiving box office |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-movie-projector-ralph-possession-of-hannah-grace-20181128-story.html |accessdate=November 28, 2018 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> It grossed $2.6 million on its first day, which included $625,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut with $6.5 million, finishing seventh at the box office. Given its modest budget, Sony considered any opening above $5.5 million to be a success, referring to the film as a "low-budget cash grab in the current slow marketplace."<ref name="opening" /> In its second weekend, the film declined by 51% to $3.2 million, a stronger-than-average hold for a horror release, which typically sees drops of over 60%.<ref name="week2">{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=December 8, 2018 |title=Will 'The Grinch' Steal No. 1 Away From 'Ralph'? Both Animated Pics Eye $15M+ During Slow Pre-Christmas Period |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/ralph-breaks-the-internet-the-favourite-emma-stone-rachel-weisz-weekend-box-office-1202516270/ |accessdate=December 8, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

===Critical response===
''The Possession of Hannah Grace'' received generally negative reviews from critics. 
On the [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 22% based on 55 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "''The Possession of Hannah Grace'' feints at real horror just often enough to offer hints of the movie it should have been—and further frustrate viewers seeking a good scare."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Possession of Hannah Grace (2018) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_possession_of_hannah_grace |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 37 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Possession of Hannah Grace Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-possession-of-hannah-grace |accessdate=December 7, 2018 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C−" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by [[PostTrak]] gave it a 36% overall positive score and a 24% "definite recommend".<ref name="opening" /><ref name="week2" />

[[Christy Lemire]] of ''[[RogerEbert.com]]'' gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, describing it as "tedious" despite its brief runtime and criticizing its underdeveloped characters and abrupt ending.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Possession of Hannah Grace movie review (2018) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-possession-of-hannah-grace-2018 |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' similarly noted the film's reliance on genre clichés, stating that it "struggles to differentiate itself" within the exorcism subgenre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=2018-11-30 |title=Film Review: 'The Possession of Hannah Grace' |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/the-possession-of-hannah-grace-review-1203047001/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' wrote that the film "never fully takes hold," pointing to ineffective scares and a lack of emotional depth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-29 |title='The Possession of Hannah Grace' never fully takes hold |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/the-possession-of-hannah-grace-never-fully-takes-hold/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Other reviewers criticized the film's limited originality and narrative coherence. ''[[Common Sense Media]]'' echoed similar sentiments, stating that although the premise was intriguing, the execution lacked suspense and cohesion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Movie & TV reviews for parents |title=The Possession of Hannah Grace Movie Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-possession-of-hannah-grace |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.commonsensemedia.org |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Bloody Disgusting]]'' described it as "a stitched-together mess," while ''Plugged In'' characterized it as "a cold room chock-full of bleak and bloody bumps and battles."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=2018-11-30 |title=[Review] 'The Possession of Hannah Grace' is a Stitched-together Mess of a Film |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3535698/review-possession-hannah-grace-stitched-together-mess-film/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|5734576}}

{{Diederik van Rooijen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Possession of Hannah Grace, The}}
[[Category:2018 English-language films]]
[[Category:2018 American films]]
[[Category:2010s supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:2010s supernatural thriller films]]
[[Category:2018 horror thriller films]]
[[Category:2018 films]]
[[Category:American horror thriller films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:American supernatural thriller films]]
[[Category:Demons in film]]
[[Category:Films about exorcism]]
[[Category:Films directed by Diederik van Rooijen]]
[[Category:Films scored by John Frizzell (composer)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Boston]]
[[Category:Films set in hospitals]]
[[Category:Screen Gems films]]
[[Category:English-language horror thriller films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=The Possession of Hannah Grace|access_date=2026-03-07}}