Film 2478 - Obsession

Intro: On Niamh's birthday we went out for lunch to celebrate her. After that, on the bus to town, Debbi was saying that she wanted to go to the movies, and she expressed disappointment because Niamh and I had already gone to see this movie without telling her. So - as the good person that I am - I went back with her.

Film 2478: "Obsession" (2025), Curry Barker
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi
Thoughts: Obsessed with "Obsession" #2.
It's no mystery I liked this movie a lot the first time around... and this time even more. I think mainly because I was able to focus on details I either didn't notice or register the last time. Knowing what to expect, and where and when the scary bits are, I was able to sit back and really pay attention to the rest of the story and characters.
One thing that felt different from the get-go was my perception of the main protagonist, Bear. When you watch this film for the first time, it's impossible not to feel sorry for him: you can tell he's lonely, shy as hell, and you can sympathise with him because we've all been in love with, or been taken by, someone who doesn't feel the same way. Reality is, though, Bear is a little piece of shit, something you only realise as you watch the story unfold. This time around, the minute I saw his face on the screen, this sense of hatred and disgust came up and I couldn't shake it for the entire film. So yeah, I guess I'm a huge fan of the movie, its main actor Michael Johnston, and a big, big hater of its main protagonist. On the other hand, it was great to rewatch "Obsession" and focus even more on Inde Navarrette's performance, especially now that it's become even more culturally relevant.

She does indeed steal the whole show here; hers is undeniably the performance that stays with you after you leave the cinema. And yes, of course it's because of what happens to her character, Nikki, but mainly because Navarrette's emotional and, at the same time, terrifying portrayal is a rollercoaster of feelings that's hard to shake. Nikki is trapped in her own body, her free will taken away from her (by a man, nonetheless), her whole life now revolving around Bear - who's only happy when Nikki behaves the way he expects her to - and the only desire of what's left of the real Nikki is to die. 

In the hands of a less capable actress, the portrayal of Nikki could have been disastrous, felt caricaturesque, or even undermined her story arc. So not only did Navarrette rise to the occasion and deliver an iconic performance, she also showed Hollywood the talented actress she is (and the industry took notice: "Obsession’s Inde Navarrette Met With MCU ‘X-Men’ Director").
All in all, this second watch solidified my love (and obsession) for Curry Barker's "Obsession" even more. Like last year with "Weapons", 2026 has another horror movie sitting atop my personal Movies of the Year list. There's still a while to go before this year ends, so who knows what film will actually claim the top spot, but so far this is the story that surprised me the most: terrifying on both an emotional and visual level, sad and creepy, with a great example of genius screenwriting.
Film 2472 - Obsession
Film 2478 - Obsession
Film 2483 - Obsession
Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter.
Box Office: $427 million (as of today)
Worth a watch?: An amazing horror experience able to deliver scares and twists while also managing to be emotionally disturbing in a way few other films in the genre are capable of. It is the movie surprise of the summer, the horror sensation of the year, and a piece of current pop culture that shouldn't be missed. Creative and unsettling, if you love horror films then this one's for you.
Awards: /
Key word: Necklace.
Trailer
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Bengi

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.
Film 2472 - Obsession
Film 2478 - Obsession
Film 2483 - Obsession
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
#HollywoodCiak
Bengi