Obsession (2026)
Directed by: Curry Barker
Premise: A feeble and indecisive young man (Michael Johnston) crushes on a coworker (Inde Navarrette). He uses a magical totem to wish that she falls in love with him which she does to extreme effect.
What Works: Like many of the best horror films, Obsession uses a fanciful concept to illustrate subconscious fears and desires. In this case, Obsession dramatizes romantic longing gone wrong. Bear is madly infatuated with Nikki, his friend and coworker, but Bear does not have the confidence to make a move even when she gives him an obvious opening. Bear makes a wish and gets what he wants at first with Nikki doting on him but also doing all the emotional work of the relationship. Nikki’s affection becomes increasingly erratic and violent and Bear comes to realize that her love is magically forced and therefore not genuine. Obsession is a thoughtful consideration of what love actually means and how our fantasies often fall short once realized. It also plays as an allegory of being trapped in an abusive relationship. Those ideas are evident but the filmmakers don’t belabor the point; it’s all embedded in the drama and the relationships.Obsession is skillfully made and the film is both very scary and darkly funny. It isn’t a horror comedy but parts of this movie are so uncomfortable that Obsession is comedic and horrific at the same time. There is a sustained atmosphere of dread. The filmmakers know when to hold onto a scene or a moment, letting the anticipation grow and then punctuating it in ways that are surprising. Michael Johnson plays Bear and he’s quite good, especially in the way he reveals Bear’s insecurities through his gestures and line delivery. The outstanding performance of Obsession is Inde Navarrette as Nikki. Navarrette is committed to the madness and she is frightening but also pitiable which makes for a fascinating tension.
What Doesn’t: The lighting and color saturation of Obsession is inconsistent. There are some great looking images, especially shots in which Nikki is backlit and appears as a silhouette with her eyes hovering in the shadows. However, as is far too often the case in contemporary movies, some dark shots of Obsession look muddy, obscuring details and generally making the action difficult to see. Bear is an indecisive character. That’s his fatal flaw but some of his choices—or refusal to choose—make him frustrating to watch. That frustration is rooted in his character and it’s credible so this is not bad writing. But Bear’s indecisiveness lacks a payoff. He never really confronts that part of himself.
Bottom Line: Obsession is an outstanding horror film. A few specific defects aside, this is a well-crafted picture that is consistently frighting, surprising, and thoughtful.
Episode: #1099 (May 17, 2026)