Film 2472 - Obsession

Intro: I've seen this movie three times already since it came out a little more than a month ago. Some might say I am... obsessed.

Film 2472: "Obsession" (2025), Curry Barker
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I don't think I realized how much I liked this movie the first time I watched it. I mean, it was clear that I liked it, but to be willing to go back an additional two times—and, on top of that, always finding new details and things to appreciate and enjoy—that is definitely a testament to how good this movie is. And I think it's even more remarkable when you factor in that "Obsession" is a horror movie and, usually, once you know the plot and the horrific secret/monster/mystery is revealed, part of the novelty and thrill of the story is gone forever.
It's clear that I'm not the only one who liked Curry Barker's film: $370 million made so far (over a budget of $750,000), many records broken (from Wikipedia: In its third weekend, the film made $27.4 million, becoming the first wide release outside of the Christmas season since E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) to increase its earnings for three consecutive weekends), the One Wish Willow merchandise and, as it happens when movies perform better than expected and connect with audiences, an extremely early potential Oscar campaign (that Focus Features seems to have confirmed). But is the movie really worth all the buzz that it has generated so far?
My personal opinion aside, I think "Obsession" is an incredibly clever movie. Unlike many other horror outings, this one actually presents a solid screenplay with an ending that not only makes perfect sense and surprises with a twist, but also wraps the story in a full-circle moment that is both satisfying and terrifying to watch. Considering there is nothing worse than a horror movie with a bad ending, "Obsession" feels even more refreshing because of this.
Additionally, both lead performances are great. Michael Johnston has the difficult task of portraying Bear, a shy and nerdy guy who has been secretly in love with his friend and co-worker Nikki. At the beginning he seems so nice and you really root for him; you feel sad for what happens to him and what he's going through. I guess everyone can identify with his experience in some capacity: we've all felt lonely, lost someone, or fallen in love with a person who didn't reciprocate our feelings. That said, it doesn't take much time before we realize how shitty of a person Bear is: his bruised ego makes him selfish and deaf to Nikki's cries for help (or mercy). There's really no other way to put it: he's a gigantic piece of shit.
Opposite him, Nikki (played by Inde Navarrette in a breakthrough performance) is, at the beginning of the story, ready to move on with her life, quit her job, and focus on her passion for writing, looking to fall in love with life again. This is obviously cut short by Bear's actions: imprisoned by the One Wish Willow curse, she'll turn into Bear's perfect girlfriend for a while, until things gradually take a crazy turn. Nikki's overall story arc and extremely sad and disturbing fate are perfectly portrayed by Navarrette's hypnotic performance. She's mesmerizing and clearly the star of the movie, and rightfully so. Her character's journey is terrifying, to say the least: trapped in a body that isn't hers anymore, forced to please her jailor in every possible way—mentally and physically—and unable to escape her fate. She's basically turned into an object, stripped of everything that made Nikki herself: her future and her will. I know this is just fiction, but it's scary when you think about it and reflect a bit deeper on this movie's plot and themes. And I do think it's relevant that the character who goes through this journey is the female one: dehumanized, objectified, and sexualized. In this political climate, I cannot help but wonder if Nikki's fate is just an extremified take on the female experience. But I digress.
Navarrette's portrayal is powerful and extremely physical, sometimes so hard to watch that you have to look away. But at the same time, so many iconic moments belong to her Nikki, and I think partly this is where the power of this movie lies: its story is simple and scary, the performances are good, and there are so many memeable moments. Go on TikTok and look for "Obsession" content and see it for yourself.
All in all, Curry Barker's film was such an amazing surprise. It's no secret I love horror films and I feel blessed with the amount of good content we've gotten lately: we've been spoiled with "The Substance", "Weapons", "Sinners", "28 Years Later", "Final Destination: Bloodlines" and "Send Help". With newcomers like this one and "Backrooms", the horror genre seems to find itself in a moment of cultural resurgence and relevance thanks to new, good stories and possibly the current need for escapism and entertainment. And "Obsession" rightfully takes its place in the zeitgeist of it all: it's a crazy, terrifying ride thanks to a smart script and a simple idea behind it all. That once again proves that you don't need a stellar budget and the biggest names in Hollywood to bring people to the theaters: the right ingredients will do that for you.
Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter.
Box Office: $370 million (as of now)
Worth a watch?: Horror movies are not for everyone, for sure, but if you do enjoy them, this is one for the ages. So far, my favourite movie that I've watched this year.
Awards: /
Key word: One wish.
Trailer
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