5 Unsettling Facts About The Possession Of Hannah Grace And Where The Cast Is Now

Released in 2018, The Possession of Hannah Grace offered a uniquely claustrophobic take on the exorcism sub-genre, trading grand cathedrals for the sterile, unsettling environment of a city hospital morgue. As of late December 2025, the film continues to generate buzz among horror fans for its grim atmosphere and the physically demanding central performance that brought the titular possessed corpse to life. The story centers on Megan Reed, a former cop battling PTSD and addiction, who takes the graveyard shift at the Boston Metro Hospital morgue, only to confront a horrifying entity that refuses to let its host body die.

This supernatural horror thriller, directed by Diederik Van Rooijen, may have received mixed critical reviews upon its release, but its unsettling premise and the commitment of its cast—particularly Shay Mitchell and Kirby Johnson—have cemented its place as a modern cult favorite. From its surprising real-life inspirations to the groundbreaking camera technology used to film its darkest scenes, here is an in-depth look at the movie and the current status of its key players.

The Cast and Crew: Where Are They Now?

The success of The Possession of Hannah Grace hinged on the intense, isolated performance of its lead, Shay Mitchell, and the chilling, physically demanding work of Kirby Johnson. Here is a look at the main talent behind the film and their latest projects.

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• Shay Mitchell (as Megan Reed): The Canadian actress, best known for *Pretty Little Liars*, anchored the film as the troubled ex-cop Megan Reed. Since the film's release, Mitchell has successfully transitioned into a major entrepreneur. She is the founder of the highly successful travel accessories line, 'BÉIS'. In her acting career, she starred in the Netflix series *You* and the Hulu series *Dollface*. As of 2024, she is also the host of a new Max series, *Thirst with Shay Mitchell*, a travel show exploring global drink culture, balancing her acting and business ventures.
• Kirby Johnson (as Hannah Grace): Johnson's performance as the possessed corpse, Hannah Grace, was largely silent but incredibly physical, earning praise for her contortionist skills. This role was her breakout feature film. Johnson continues to work in the industry, often leveraging her unique physical talents, and her portrayal remains a highlight of the film's visual effects.
• Diederik Van Rooijen (Director): The Dutch director, who made his American feature debut with this film, has returned to television and film projects in Europe. Van Rooijen, alongside Sabine Brian, co-founded Horizon Film. His recent and upcoming work includes the crime drama series *Suga*, which is set to premiere in 2025, demonstrating his continued activity as a writer, director, and producer.
• Stana Katic (as Lisa Roberts): Known for her long-running role on *Castle*, Katic played Lisa Roberts, Megan's former partner. Following *Hannah Grace*, Katic starred in the Prime Video series *Absentia* as FBI agent Emily Byrne, which ran for three seasons, and continues to take on diverse film and television roles.

Unsettling Fact #1: The Corpse's Physical Performance Was Real

One of the most disturbing and effective elements of The Possession of Hannah Grace is the movement of the possessed corpse. Unlike many horror films that rely heavily on CGI for such effects, the filmmakers chose to use practical effects and the extraordinary physical talent of actress Kirby Johnson.

Johnson is a trained contortionist and dancer. She performed the majority of the unsettling, bone-breaking movements of Hannah Grace herself. This included the infamous scene where the corpse appears to crawl or contort in unnatural ways. The makeup effects, which depicted the mangled, burned, and stitched body of Hannah, were also practical, making the visual of the reanimated body authentically disturbing and giving the film a visceral, grounded horror feel that CGI often lacks.

Unsettling Fact #2: The Film’s Cinematography Used a Groundbreaking, Low-Budget Camera

In a move that surprised many in the film industry, *The Possession of Hannah Grace* was shot using a full-frame mirrorless camera—the Sony α7S II. This camera is typically considered a consumer-grade or professional photography camera, costing less than $3,000, which is highly unusual for a major feature film from a studio like Screen Gems.

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The decision was a creative one, driven by the need to film in extremely low-light conditions to capture the atmosphere of the morgue's graveyard shift. The Sony α7S II is renowned for its exceptional low-light capabilities. The filmmakers mounted high-end anamorphic lenses onto this relatively small camera, achieving a cinematic look while operating in near-darkness. This unique combination allowed the director to achieve a gritty, realistic, and deeply shadowy aesthetic that perfectly complements the film's isolated setting and the psychological state of Megan Reed.

Unsettling Fact #3: The Story Draws on a Famous Real-Life Exorcism Case

While the plot is fictional, the narrative of a botched exorcism leading to a tragic death has connections to real-life events. Many horror analysts and fans believe that *The Possession of Hannah Grace* draws inspiration from the real-life exorcism of Anneliese Michel, a case that has inspired several other horror films, most notably *The Exorcism of Emily Rose*.

Anneliese Michel was a German woman who underwent a series of exorcisms in the 1970s. She ultimately died of starvation and dehydration, leading to the conviction of her parents and the two priests involved. The narrative of Hannah Grace's father smothering her after the failed exorcism to stop the demon, only for the demon to resurrect the corpse, mirrors the tragic, fatal outcome of real-world cases where the possessed individual does not survive the ordeal, creating a chilling parallel between fiction and a dark chapter of history.

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Unsettling Fact #4: The Demon's Survival is Tied to the Corpse's Condition

The film's ending is often a point of discussion among viewers. Megan Reed manages to defeat the possessed Hannah Grace by incinerating the body, but not before the demon makes a final, terrifying leap. The core concept of the demon's power is that it is linked to the physical body and its ability to regenerate.

The demon within Hannah Grace’s body has the ability to heal the physical trauma inflicted upon the corpse, which is why it repeatedly regenerates after being stabbed, shot, and mutilated. The entity needs a host body, but it is not inherently tied to the host's life force—it is tied to the host's *physical form*. The ending sees the demon attempt to possess Megan, but when she manages to completely destroy Hannah’s corpse in the incinerator, the demon's physical anchor is gone, forcing it to attempt a jump to a new host, which Megan thwarts by sacrificing herself to the flames. The chilling final scene, however, suggests the entity may have survived in a weakened state, ensuring the terror is never truly over.

Unsettling Fact #5: The Film is a Deep Dive into Trauma and Addiction

Beyond the jump scares and supernatural elements, the film functions as a psychological thriller focusing on Megan Reed's struggle with PTSD and addiction. Her job in the morgue, dealing with death in isolation, is a form of self-punishment and a way to cope with the trauma of her past—specifically, the shooting of her partner.

The appearance of the possessed corpse can be viewed as an external manifestation of her internal demons. The entity, which thrives on death and violence, preys on her emotional and psychological vulnerability. The morgue itself becomes a symbolic space for her recovery journey. She must confront a literal monster (Hannah Grace) to overcome her metaphorical one (her addiction and trauma). This layer of character development, focusing on Megan's slow burn recovery and her ultimate act of self-sacrifice, elevates the film beyond a simple body-horror flick, giving it a topical authority on the themes of mental health and redemption.