Obsession (Curry Barker, 2026)

[black&huge]

any reason why there's no thread for Obsession?

[domino harvey]

We generally split off discussions into dedicated threads when there’s been at least three posts discussing the film. Feel free to start the ball rolling by posting about it in this thread for now

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I actually had no idea it wasn't being discussed! well here we go:

Spoiler

I don't have much of a groundbreaking comment I actually came to get some opinions on a certain stylistic choice in the movie that I'm not sure is bad or not. Throughout the entire film the use of music cues accents literal physical hits or to signal moments where Nikki manages to snap out of the entity's grasp. I could see this working if used 2-3 times but it's almost everytime. I however am still unsure about it. I don't dislike it but it's the most critical thing I have to say about the movie so far. Is it cheating the audience? is it overused? If you guys are confused by my dilemma I am too

[cdnchris]

I actually had no idea it wasn't being discussed! well here we go:

Spoiler

I don't have much of a groundbreaking comment I actually came to get some opinions on a certain stylistic choice in the movie that I'm not sure is bad or not. Throughout the entire film the use of music cues accents literal physical hits or to signal moments where Nikki manages to snap out of the entity's grasp. I could see this working if used 2-3 times but it's almost everytime. I however am still unsure about it. I don't dislike it but it's the most critical thing I have to say about the movie so far. Is it cheating the audience? is it overused? If you guys are confused by my dilemma I am too

Spoiler

I might need to watch it again (and I have to say this is the first film I've seen in a long while that I really want to see again in the theater, maybe since Zodiac, unless I'm forgetting one) but I don't recall it being that bad, and I seem to recall the music being effective in general, and kinda offbeat. I remember two music hits when Nikki was trying to get out of it (the make out scene and the one at the party), the one where she smashes the car window, and then another that I think was played for a laugh. Otherwise, I seem to remember it being generally low key. But I'd have to see it again. I seem to remember it being more atmosphere and not relying on jumps like that.

I think I got lucky seeing this before it took off, because I'm not sure how I would have felt about it after how much it"s been built up since. But I found it very effective. Not scary, really, but unsettling I guess? The last moments were quite good, with Nikki trying to change herself to what she thought Bear wanted (to a disturbing degree). It does a decent spin on the Monkey Paw/"careful what you wish for" trope. I was expecting a version of that Tales from the Crypt episode with Andrew McCarthy and Mariel Hemingway, and I guess it's that to an extent, but takes the idea in a more interesting direction with how it explores how Nikki's autonomy has been taken away, dependent/abusive relationships, and makes Bear something of an antagonist once he learns what's happened (a coward, too). I also liked that it didn't feel the need to explain what is actually happening and the lore around the One Wish thingy (I fear a sequel would feel the need to dig into that, which I think would ruin it). I did love there was a help line, which leads to a hilarious exchange. The trinket shop scenes were funny, too.

I don't know much about the director (a YouTuber according to my son and daughter) but I thought this was very well made; visually interesting without coming off showy. But I'm curious to revisit to see if its success is him or if Navarette is possibly carrying more of the weight than I first thought.

Also, speaking of YouTube directors, I watched 40 minutes of Shelby Oakes; what a fucking dumpster fire that film is, and what I'm fearing we'll get more of if Hollywood decides to pour more money into YT filmmakers following the huge success of this and Backrooms (which I still need to see).

[The Curious Sofa]

any reason why there's no thread for Obsession?

I thought Obsession not only delivered on its monkey's paw premise, but also exceeded my expectations by being scarier, funnier and smarter than I had anticipated. Inde Navarrette deserves awards recognition and a long acting career.

I only watched this last night, and I'm still processing it. What I initially thought were weaknesses, such as the ambiguity surrounding the relationship between the two main characters prior to the spell, may actually be strengths. The film could have taken a more obvious approach by condemning incel culture or having the girl reject him outright, but Bear uses the One Wish Willow

Spoiler

at the very moment he should have realised that he may not need to. I think my estimation of the film will increase with another watch, and I too loved how the lore was handled by the magic object coming from a simple New Age crystal store.

It's a great debut feature, and although I'm not particularly excited about Curry Baker's next project being another Texas Chainsaw movie, I read that he already has another movie in the can. With so many interesting new horror filmmakers around, and horror being the most consistently profitable genre, we really are in a new golden age of horror movies.

[domino harvey]

Obsession is now the highest grossing film worldwide to cost under one million dollars surpassing Enter the Dragon

[therewillbeblus]

Obsession didn't do much for me outside of Inde Navarrette's star-making perf. I was particularly frustrated at all the baldly obvious horror nods, from The Exorcist to Blue Velvet, straight up plagiarism

[The Curious Sofa]

If I dismissed horror films for their lack of originality, I wouldn't bother with the genre at all. Most horror movies work within subgenres that use familiar tropes for their own purposes, and so many modern horror classics can be traced back to their influences. The Stepford Wives + The Skeleton Key + Guess Who's Coming to Dinner = Get Out. The Wicker Man + Rosemary's Baby + Don't Look Now = Hereditary.

Complaining that a film rips off The Exorcist is in itself a tired argument; that movie is in the DNA of any film about possession. There are far more fitting references Obsession actually draws on: Fatal Attraction, Ruby Sparks, Smile and I don't get a Blue Velvet or even a Lynch vibe. If you're looking for an '80s nightmare movie, wouldn't Zulawski's Possession be a better fit, especially in regard to Inde Navarrette's committed performance?

Obsession uses horror tropes to comment on modern dating culture, where people are less willing to let a relationship unfold toward genuine connection and instead want the perfect package instantly. While it's not explicitly about online dating, it works as an allegory for how that culture has reshaped our expectations and set us up to fail. Bear won't make himself vulnerable or risk rejection, he'd rather have fake intimacy than the real thing, even if that real thing may develop into a meaningful friendship rather than a romantic connection. He doesn't actually love Nikki, he loves an idea of her that's in love with him.