Obsession (2025) - Film Review

      Obsession, 2025.

      Directed by Curry Barker.

      Featuring Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter, Chloe Breen, and Darin Toonder.

      SYNOPSIS

      In the chilling feature debut of writer-director Curry Barker, a hopeless romantic's wish for his long-time crush to love him leads to a dark enchantment. The phrase "be careful what you wish for" and the tale of the monkey's paw play significant roles in Obsession, delivering a gripping performance by Inde Navarrette from Superman & Lois. This film is a must-see for horror enthusiasts, showcasing a disturbing relationship that spirals into chaos.

      Bear (Michael Johnston) has harbored feelings for Nikki (Navarrette) for years, but their bond remains platonic as close friends. After acquiring a wishing willow and feeling frustrated about expressing his emotions, Bear makes a reckless wish for Nikki to love him "more than anything." This triggers a transformation as Nikki becomes infatuated with Bear, converting their friendship into a budding romance. However, red flags emerge quickly as Nikki's affection becomes dangerously obsessive, threatening to escalate from troubling to deadly for the socially awkward Bear.

      Barker’s screenplay is cleverly crafted and eerie, with direction that amplifies the unsettling atmosphere, as tension builds during scenes and shifts from comfort to discomfort in an instant. Even a lighter comedic moment featuring Johnston’s Bear and his friend, played by Cooper Tomlinson, manages to retain an underlying tension, with Navarrette’s Nikki lingering ominously in the backdrop, never losing sight of Bear.

      Johnston delivers a relatable performance as Bear, capturing both his virtues and flaws. While Bear’s awkwardness and loyalty can elicit empathy, he also embodies the 'nice guy' stereotype often warned against. Despite years of friendship with Nikki, he remains fixated on his unreciprocated feelings, failing to accept that they may be best suited as friends—a scenario many women may resonate with. This intriguing deconstruction of the nice guy trope becomes even more compelling as Bear overlooks the evident signs that Nikki is becoming increasingly unstable due to his wish.

      The term "unhinged" might even undersell Navarrette's remarkable transformation throughout the film. Her nuanced performance, conveyed through her voice, body language, and particularly her facial expressions, reveals Nikki's escalating instability. Her transition from sweet dinner moments to eerie manic stillness is extraordinary, as her presence alone raises unsettling questions about her next move.

      A key element of Nikki’s character and Navarrette’s performance is Barker's choice of lighting and visuals. In several scenes, Navarrette is illuminated so that only her silhouette or the slightest glimpse of her face is visible. This technique leaves much to the audience's imagination, often evoking greater fear than full visibility during her tense moments. However, the horror isn’t merely implied; there are shocking and bloody sequences as Bear and Nikki’s relationship deteriorates, utilizing effective makeup, visuals, and a steady build-up of escalating chaos.

      Obsession skillfully blends light humor with disturbing tension as Bear and Nikki's relationship evolves unpredictably. Johnston, Navarrette, and their co-stars, Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless, create a strong chemistry at the core of the film, with Navarrette truly stealing the spotlight. In his feature debut, Barker demonstrates a solid grasp of storytelling and technical elements, making Obsession a memorable and terrifying experience.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for more movie news and nerd discussions.