Obsession (2026)

It took me long enough. Okay, I haven’t actually watched anything recent in a couple of months. Yeah, I know. A movie-obsessed weirdo like myself didn’t catch this in the theater when I had the chance but as I’ve said before: better late than never. I finally found the time and watched Obsession for the first time. Now that I have, all I can ask myself is, “Why the hell didn’t I see this in the theater?” because this was some of the best horror I’ve seen in a while. I never thought I’d be in a time where YouTubers would be the ones to rule the world of horror in the same year, let alone the same month, but I guess the world just likes to keep surprising me. This movie peaked my interest from the very beginning. It scared the absolute piss out of me and it stayed with me long after it was over. I’m not sure a horror film has ever had the kind of effect this one left on me but when it comes to someone like me, that’s saying a lot. Alright, I talked about Weapons and Backrooms having this kind of similar effect on me but this was a whole new level of making my heart skip a beat. I have more to say about this original scare piece, so let’s jump right in and learn the horrific consequences of what happens when a wish actually comes true.

     The story kicks off when awkward music store worker Bear (Michael Johnston) breaks a One Wish Willow to force his coworker Nikki (Inde Navarette) to fall in love with him, trapping her in a mind control curse that turns into a nightmare scenario where she acts out his nonconsensual and clinging fantasy. This movie kept me glued to the screen throughout  and writer/director/editor Curry Barker took this genre and cranked it all the way up, giving the audience a story that will make anyone’s skin crawl. The cast also includes Cooper Tomlinson (Barker’s creative partner), Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter. Everyone in this film is great but I have to give a huge shoutout to Inde Navarette for her terrifying, spine-chilling, and electrifying performance. She does an incredible job of playing two different personalities of her character and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone turn in a more stellar performance in the history of horror. Well, I might be overstretching a little, because I have seen some pretty good performances when it comes to this genre, but Navarette stands out in a way that I’ve never seen accomplished before. That’s for damn sure. I’ll admit, I don’t know too much about Curry Barker but from what I’ve seen, I think the guy has a real promising career ahead of him. In a world full of films that feel repetitive and formulaic (I can relate), it’s always a welcome change when something new and original comes out. And it’s safe to say that that’s exactly what I got here.

     I’m not sure I can think of anything negative to say about this experience. It had everything that makes a horror flick great and I couldn’t find one thing damaging about it, and that’s coming from someone who nitpicks at every little detail. Let that sink in. Overall, I would have to give this movie a solid 10 out of 10. So, if you’re a fan of this genre or if you’re like me and waited this long, then check the film out immediately. Much like the title suggests, you’ll be obsessed from start to finish.