One of the greatest things about horror films is that every few years or so, an unknown filmmaker will make a film on a shoestring budget, and it becomes so successful that it redefines how we approach the genre. In the late 90’s, we had The Blair Witch Project with the advent of Found Footage. In the late 2000’s, we had Paranormal Activity which expanded on what the former built. In the mid 2010s, we had Terrifier bring back the cheap gore flicks of the 70s and 80s. Now we have Obsession mixing high quality film techniques with YouTube speed and budget. There’s really something about horror that allows true talent to shine through, despite limitations in budget and connections. While I may not vibe with all of them (sorry, I never liked The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity), I could never deny their cultural impact.
Written and directed by Curry Barker, who has previously achieved notoriety through his hilarious YouTube shorts, Obsession centers around a young man named Bear (Michael Johnston) who can’t seem to confess to his childhood friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) his massive crush on her. Frustrated by his cowardice, he makes a wish for Nikki to love him more than anyone else in the world on a One Wish Willow, a vintage novelty toy he picked up in a new age shop that supposedly grants a single wish to whoever breaks it. And of course, that wish comes true – with less than desirable results. Now Bear must grapple with Nikki’s increasingly erratic and disturbing behavior as he comes to realize how literal a wish could be.
I can already tell you upfront, this is one massive hit horror film that I actually get the hype surrounding it. Obsession is a masterclass on how to do a low budget horror film well. Starting with the performances, Barker really found lightning in a bottle when he cast Inde Navarrette as Nikki. I’ll put it this way: she was so good that as I was walking out of the theater (visibly shaky, I might note), it literally took me until I got to my car to register that she was acting. Like even while watching the best performances in most movies, I assess and appreciate as I watch how good of actors they are. I didn’t do that in this case. Her performance as “Freaky Nikki” was so terrifying and compelling that my disbelief was suspended entirely and I forgot that it was an actress in there, not an unfortunate young woman who lost all control of herself because of a wish.
The lighting for this film was practically a character of its own, and certainly was a powerful alley for Navarrette’s performance. Any good horror film director knows, its what we don’t see that will frighten us far more than what we do see. But in this case, when the only danger in the film comes in the form of a petite framed young woman, a well placed shadow in a corner, a silhouette in a car window, a tiny fraction of light reflected off of her eyes – these are some of the strongest tools in a horror director’s arsenal. I’ll even concede this similar withholding as a technique is what made Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity effective for many as well.
For certain, the element that is really keeping people having discourse about this film are the core themes it presents. Sure, on paper, the plot of accidentally wishing someone would love you only for it to go wrong sounds like a 60’s Twilight Zone episode, not a nuanced and terrifying horror film from 2026. But even a simple concept can land in a way that makes us ask ourselves some very uncomfortable questions. Namely, who is the true victim and who was the villain of this story? Were the creepy behavior and graphic violence the scariest parts? Or was it the complete loss of personal agency and the entitlement to another person’s emotions?
I believe it’s this sort of discourse that will keep Obsession on everyone’s minds for years to come. While, no, it doesn’t re-invent the wheel when it comes to the horror genre, it does streamline it through its emotional precision, exceptional performances, and sheer creep factor. It refuses to give anyone, including its audience, an easy way out.
Obsession is available to rent on “On Demand”
