By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Acclaimed horror writer Stephen King had nothing to do with Obsession. Nonetheless, I kept thinking about something the author once said while I was watching this harrowing horror movie. In his wonderful “Why We Crave Horror Movies” article, King argued that every human’s brain is filled with “hungry alligators,” and watching terrifying movies is a safe and cathartic way to feed those alligators. If we don’t feed these carnivorous critters, King argues, we might just make like Jack Torrance and go a little crazy. In a weird way, that’s what Obsession is about: the dangerous darkness hidden within the most unsuspecting souls, just waiting to get out.
In a fun twist, that darkness doesn’t come in the form of a crazed killer. Instead, it’s all about a young man who would do anything to get his childhood crush to love him more than anything else. He gets his wish, however, and is forced to realize how selfish and downright dangerous his desire really was.
Obsession is captivating from beginning to end, solidifying director Curry Barker as one of the best and brightest new voices in horror. Moreover, it’s one of the scariest films of the last decade, making it perfect for anyone looking for a few good screams.
Escaping The Friendzone At Any Cost
The premise of Obsession is deceptively simple. “Bear” Bailey is a young man who works at a music shop with his childhood friend, Nikki. He has romantic feelings for her, but like many dudes, he’s been effectively friend-zoned.
Instead of legitimately asking her out or simply moving on to another girl, Bear decides to use a “One Wish Willow,” which promises to make any wish come true. He wishes for Nikki to love him more than anything in the world, hoping this will secure her affection. It works, but as Nikki’s devotion becomes both dangerous and deadly, Bear learns the oldest lesson of them all: be careful what you wish for. Like some of the best horror movies, Obsession is a very grounded, lo-fi production. There are no dazzling special effects or distracting CGI, and this helps the actual horrific moments stand out that much more.
Before the film descends into full-blown body horror territory, it mines much of its terror out of the scariest thing of all: cringe. After Bear’s wish takes effect, Nikki begins acting increasingly erratic around their shared friend group, and these scenes can be brutally difficult to watch. Without knowing the weird black magic wish Bear invoked, his friends can only ask themselves one question: what the hell is wrong with this guy’s girlfriend?
An Oscar-Worthy Horror Performance
These scenes of quiet social terror work well largely because Obsession has a killer cast. Michael Johnston is best known for his voice acting, but he is pitch-perfect here as Bear, a guy whose hapless everyman quality makes him relatable. It’s hard not to sympathize with a man whose cat died and who just can’t get laid.
The character gets less sympathetic as time goes on: not only does he magically enslave someone, but he doesn’t hesitate to sleep with Nikki even when he knows she’s not herself. In peak “nice guy” mode, Bear doesn’t really care about what he did to her until it starts to affect him.
As good as Johnston is in the movie, Obsession is really a master showcase for Nikki actor Inde Navarrette. With only one feature film under her belt, I didn’t know what to expect from this young actor, and I was absolutely blown away by her versatility: she expertly animates both the “normal” Nikki and the obsessed version, sometimes alternating between them in the space of a scene.
Nikki can be absolutely terrifying (especially when her obsession drives her to acts of self-mutilation), but Navarrette underscores this relentless performance with notes of haunting vulnerability. In short, while horror is often overlooked by the Academy, Navarette turns in a performance fully worthy of Oscar consideration.
Some Wishes Really Do Come True
Of course, her odds of getting nominated are greater than you might think because of how successful Obsession has been. The movie was made for about $1 million and has made (as of this writing) nearly $28 million. Furthermore, it’s gotten rave reviews from the critics and currently has a 95 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Impressively, the movie also has an audience score of 94 percent, indicating it’s a crowdpleaser that general moviegoers love just as much as professional reviewers. But why wouldn’t they? With this film, Curry Barker just established the new benchmark for modern horror.
There’s so much more to say about this amazing movie (the sound design alone will send shivers down your spine), but I don’t want to spoil anything. It’s definitely worth seeing Obsession on the big screen, preferably with your girlfriend or wife. For added irony points, be sure to ask them afterward whether they love you more than anything else. By the time the credits roll, you’ll know just how scary the answer to that question can be!
