Possession-type movies were quite popular in the 1970s thanks to "The Exorcist". In this TV-movie, clothing, papers, and people are bursting into flames at a girls' boarding school, so it's ex-priest Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) to the rescue. He tangles with the school's administrators, including the evil Louise Gelson (Joan Hackett). Although not unexpected, the nail-spitting/vomit/immolation sequence is quite a bravura finale. The movie's conclusion is a little muddled, apparently purposely so. Fine actresses Ann Dusenberry and Claudette Nevins also star.First broadcast in May 1977, this film also starred fourth-billed Harrison Ford, in his final role before becoming a worldwide superstar thanks to his appearance in "Star Wars" a few weeks later. He plays a handsome biology teacher who unfortunately finds himself locked in a room and on fire. Ford's brief appearance is a little disappointing, but how could the filmmakers have known he'd be incredibly famous in just a couple of weeks? This TV-movie is an interesting time-filler, but you've seen it all before. Try to catch it for a brief glimpse of young and pre-stardom Harrison Ford.

"The Possessed" has a priest sent on a mission to destroy evil arriving at an all girls' college where a series of inexplicable fires are occurring, some of which have injured the students. As time rolls on, it becomes clear that everything at the school is not as copacetic as it seems.What is it about '70s television horror films that is so endearing? I really don't know. I didn't even grow up in the era, but I still find a certain sort of charm and unique attention to detail in them that theatrical films of the era didn't always offer, and "The Possessed" is another example to be added to this list.Often viewed as a TV riff on "The Exorcist," "The Possessed" is actually incredibly different, specifically in its explicitness, as well as its treatment of evil. As Father Leahy tells one of the female students in the film, sometimes evil just appears without any rhyme or reason, and to think that our actions are what bring it about is not only inaccurate, but foolish.It is this approach that the film takes which is certainly unusual— the very nature of the evil forces in question are incredibly vague, and remain so. These forces are visually represented (or rather, manifested) through the random fires that are occurring on the school campus, and the treatment of these scenes is surprisingly unnerving and bizarre. There are also some unusual meditations on student-teacher relationships and the sexualized politics of academia that sometimes take center stage as the film's central drama— however, they may or may not be inconsequential to the supernatural events occurring at the school.The film was shot at Reed College in Portland, Oregon— an area I grew up near— and there is a hazy, foggy look to the entire film that is effective and establishes an appropriate level of gloom. The film's conclusion is a bit brisk (perhaps too brisk), but for a television film from the '70s, is entirely forgivable. Overall, a noble and understated effort that captures the charm of '70s television films while reaching considerable heights on the creep-o-meter. Also worth checking out for its top-notch cast— Joan Hackett, Claudette Nevins, and James Farentino head the cast. Also some great early performances from P.J. Soles (who filmed "Halloween" the following year), Diana Scarwid, and Harrison Ford, who, three weeks after "The Possessed"'s air date, would only forever be known as Han Solo. 8/10.

Lost-his-faith priest Kevin Leahy (James Farentino) dies in a car accident. He is admonished by God for having lost his faith and returned to Earth on a mission to seek out evil. He quickly finds it at an all girls school run by siblings Ellen (Claudette Nevins) and Louise (Joan Hackett). Fires have been starting with seemingly no source and it appears to actually be targeting the girls. This TV movie plays like a pilot for THE EXORCIST: THE SERIES, but WB Television never went any further with it. Farentino is good in the lead role and you'll notice some familiar faces among the students including P.J. Soles, Dinah Manoff, and Ann Dusenberry. Perhaps the biggest draw for folks is a pre-STAR WARS Harrison Ford as the girls' biology teacher. The fire bits are pretty spooky, as is the performance of the possessed person (I won't spoil it) during the last ten minutes. The end gets down to the EXORCIST-lite moments, including the possessed person puking up nails (!) on the priest.

Thank you IMDb. I remember seeing this as a kid back in the 1980s when my dad taped it after a late night BBC screening. For years that nail spewing scene has lived with me. Recently, I found myself thinking "Why have I never seen that film where a woman vomits nails again? Surely it's a horror classic." That bit scared the hell out of me when I was a kid, even though I remembered next to nothing else about it. Google searches along the lines of "puke" "nails" "school" came up with nothing. No one else seems to remember it. And then, thanks to IMDb, I find that I hadn't just imagined it! It exists. Glad that other people shared the experience of seeing this as a kid. I'd love to watch it again, although I understand it may not be as good as I remember it.