The Possession (2012) is a paranormal horror movie that revolves around the real-life haunted object, The Dybbuk Box, which is said to be one of the most dangerous haunted objects in the world.
In the movie, Clyde and Stephanie are a separated couple who share custody of their two children, Emily and Hannah. When Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) takes his children to a yard sale during their visit with him, he picks up the Dybbuk Box after his daughter, Emily (Natasha Calis), takes an interest in it. The strange box, which is etched with Hebrew letters, starts to have a negative effect on Emily. Upon returning home with the box, she begins to hear strange whispers and exhibits increasingly sinister behaviors. Eventually, it is discovered that she has been possessed by the Dybbuk who resides within the box.
The Possession doesn’t hide the fact that it’s based on a true story, and instead used this as a prime marketing feature for the film. Even though it didn’t get very high ratings, the film still sold well at the box office but more importantly, it got people interested in the story behind the Dybbuk Box and the true aspects behind the film. Zak Bagans, who is a well-known paranormal investigator from the hit show Ghost Adventures, acquired the Dybbuk Box, which is currently on display in his Las Vegas museum.
The Dybbuk Box’s Dark History, Explained
According to Jewish mythology, a Dybbuk is a restless, malicious spirit with the ability to haunt and even possess the living. It is sometimes believed to be attached to part of a deceased person’s soul, and helps them with unfinished business, not resting until it has accomplished its goal. The real Dybbuk Box is a wine box that was originally owned by a Holocaust survivor named Havaleh, who escaped from Poland to Spain and purchased the box before coming to the United States. The box ended up in the possession of Kevin Mannis, who bought it in an estate sale in 2001 and eventually tried to return it to the family, but they didn’t want the box, claiming it was because a Dybbuk was living inside. According to Mannis, the box contained two 1920s pennies, a lock of blonde hair bound with cord, a lock of brown hair bound with cord, a small statue engraved with the Hebrew word “Shalom,” a small wine goblet, one dried rosebud, and a single candle holder with four, octopus-shaped legs. While the box was in Mannis’ possession, his mother suffered a stroke after he gave her it as a birthday present. She suffered the stroke the same day she got the box from her son.
The Dybbuk Box had another owner after Mannis, and eventually ended up with Jason Haxton, who kept it buried in a special military box underground after it started giving him strange health problems, including hives, coughing up blood, and welts all over his body. Haxton worked with Rabbis to seal the box, was successful, and kept it hidden in a secret location before deciding to donate it to Zak Bagans. This exchange was featured on an episode of Bagans’ show Deadly Possessions.
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