Zooey Deschanel Takes Possession Tips From Dana Barrett

Most Ghostbusters references are short bits that can best be encapsulated with a small video clip, as evidenced by Spook Central's collection of Ghostbusters reference videos on Critical Commons. However, sometimes there's a reference for which a small clip won't do it justice. It is for these types of references that I have this reoccurring feature here at Spook Central, the Ghostbusters Reference Review... or in this case, the PRE-Ghostbusters Reference Review (since it occurred before 1984).

I just watched and reviewed the Your Highness (2011) Blu-ray. The film stars James Franco, Danny McBride, Natalie Portman, and Zooey Deschanel. As I was watching the scene where Zooey's character Belladonna is under an obedience spell so that the evil Leezar (Justin Theroux) could fornicate with her in order to fulfill a prophesy, I couldn't help but think that Zooey's performance seemed a little familiar.


Now, here are a few clips edited together from Your Highness that feature R-rated language.


I can't say for sure that the filmmakers of Your Highness were definitely referencing Dana's possession in Ghostbusters, but I do think that there's a subconscious influence there.