'Obsession': A Stunning, Visceral Work of Psychological Horror

PHOTO: Focus Features

The old adage “be careful what you wish for” has been the moral of countless stories over the years, but it still manages to feel fresh when done correctly. That is certainly the case with Curry Barker’s debut feature, Obsession, which sees the outcome of one young man’s wish. Many iterations of stories that center on wishes gone wrong tend to come across a bit cheesy or end with the feeling that we are learning a lesson. Obsession is quite the opposite, making for a visceral and bleak experience that will tie your stomach in knots. It may seem rather simple on the surface, but Barker takes the film to an interesting intersection between psychological and supernatural horror that both shows his skill as a filmmaker and is sure to unnerve audiences. After watching Obsession, it is no wonder that it is experiencing strong word-of-mouth, as it is a well-made and gripping work of horror that has the makings of a future classic.

Bear (Michael Johnston) is an awkward young man who has long pined for his friend, Nikki (Inde Navarrette). After going to an occult shop to find a present for her, he comes across a toy known as a One Wish Willow. The toy promises to grant the wish of the user upon breaking it in half. After an awkward encounter, Bear wishes that Nikki would love him more than anyone in the world. To his surprise, his wish comes true. However, it comes at a cost, with Nikki behaving erratically and becoming totally obsessed with him. Seeing that this isn’t what he had in mind, he tries to figure out how he can make things go back to normal, but soon finds that it may be too late.

I went into this not expecting much more than a fun little genre movie. Oh, how wrong I was. I spent much of the runtime feeling stressed and unsure just how everything was going to resolve. Curry Barker truly has the goods when it comes to horror, as he is able to unsettle the audience while not over-relying on the typical tricks of the genre. Sure, there are a couple of jumpscares and some brutal violence, but so much of the film’s most upsetting aspects come from the relationship dynamic between Bear and Nikki, as well as the deeper implications of the basic premise. There is a simplicity to Obsession on a script level, but its straightforwardness gives way for Barker to zero in on details that heighten the film as a whole and it provides a great foundation for him to craft the strange, dark atmosphere of the film. Barker shines here as writer, director, and editor, making this film a memorable introduction to his style for many and instantly putting him in the conversation for one of our most exciting young filmmakers. Given the film’s surprise success, I can guarantee we will be seeing more from him and I am greatly anticipating whatever he does next. 

Barker’s direction is strong, but I also have to give credit to Taylor Clemons’s camerawork. The use of shadows alone impressed me, but there are a handful of shots that I greatly appreciated. Clemons and Barker work in tandem to give the film a distinct look, with Barker knowing just when to let the camera linger and when to cut away. Beyond that, Rock Burwell’s primarily electronic score adds to the stressful nature of the film in the best possible way, calling to mind Daniel Lopatin’s scores for his collaborations with the Safdie Brothers. The film as a whole might not necessarily be doing anything new, but it does everything with such confidence and skill that it elevates it significantly and makes the film truly amazing. 

At the center of the film is a starmaking performance from Inde Navarrette as Nikki. It is a big performance, but one that hits all the right notes. We see her spiral into insanity as a result of Bear’s wish, and Navarrette manages to be scary, unpredictable, and somewhat pitiful throughout the film. It feels like a classic scream queen performance that is modified and well-calibrated for modern horror, and shows that Navarrette has some serious chops. It is likely to draw some comparisons to Mia Goth’s portrayal of Pearl from Pearl, but Navarrette has a slight complexity to her performance that feels a bit more human and layered. It is impossible to tear your eyes away from her anytime she is on screen, and I hope that this film helps take her career to the next level.

Obsession is one of those films that crawls under your skin, putting you in a state of anxiety until long after the credits roll. It is bleak, visceral, and hands down one of the best horror films of the 2020s. I can’t remember the last time a film affected me both emotionally and physically like this one did. I was so unnerved and had a pit in my stomach for much of the runtime, and I loved every second of it. This is an excellent feature debut from Curry Barker, who I have high hopes for given how strong every aspect of the film is. Obsession is phenomenal to say the least, and I am certain that this will become a new favorite for many horror fans.

Rating: 4.5/5