It’s easy for horror fans to get caught up in all the hype surrounding the release of a highly anticipated new horror movie, whether it’s an indie production or a big budget studio picture. We fall for it every time because deep down we want the movie to be everything it has been built up to be. More times than not, we’re probably disappointed by what we end up seeing on screen, but I would argue that this is because we’re expecting too much, and the let downs are not always a true reflection of the quality of the film or its entertainment value. Curry Barker’s Obsession certainly had people in the industry talking it up prior to its release. Last October, the film was acquired by Focus Features for roughly $14 million after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, becoming the highest-grossing genre acquisition in the festival’s history. And many of you are probably aware of all the raves reviews it’s been getting.
For those of you who have seen it, I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t anticipating Obsession rivaling any of the masterpieces of horror cinema, films like The Exorcist and The Omen, but Barker delivers everything that horror fans want to see, and the all the fanfare it has received is well-deserved, in my opinion. The early box office returns are further proof of the film’s mass appeal.
The cast of young newcomers give genuine acting performances, which is not something you usually get in small budget indie films. Michael Johnston plays Bear, a character who is stuck in the dreaded friend zone with Nikki, a girl he works with and has a secret crush on. However, he is unable muster up the courage to tell her how he feels. Instead, he takes a chance on a novelty gimmick which he picks up at a ‘witchy’ store. It’s called One Wish Willow, and it alleges to grant the purchaser one wish.
Bear may have intended to give the novelty item to Nikki as a gift, but in his desperation, he uses it himself, wishing for that Nikki would love him. To his amazement, it actually works, except what he thought would be the start of a long, blissful relationship that he always imagined turns out to be a nightmare for everyone, including the audience.
Immediately, there is a noticeable change in Nikki’s behavior. Not only does she become enamored with Bear, but she begins to change completely. Her behavior quickly devolves from erratic to psychotic, and finally violent outbursts. This is where the true terror of the movie hinges, prompting a visceral reaction from the audience as well as from Bear. The creepiest moments are when Nikki is discovered hiding in a dark corner of the bedroom watching Bear sleep, or moving in a bizarre, halting manner, or suddenly screaming at the top of her lungs.
The premise of Obsession is simple enough, as either sex can relate to the kind of longing for a person that Bear feels for Nikki. However, what’s interesting is that by the end of the movie you’ll find yourself not feeling a whole lot of empathy for Bear. Michael Johnston does a remarkable job emoting his character’s response to what his love-wish has unleashed, at first feeling uncomfortable, then distressed, and eventually horrified.
Bear’s infatuation with Nikki is turned upside down when she becomes obsessed with him, the difference being that she is not in control of her actions. She is essentially possessed by the perverted magic of this novelty item, a power set entirely into motion by Bear. What at first could have been regarded as cute, harmless, and even an endearing gesture when he wished for Nikki to love him, becomes a selfish and loathsome act as Nikki becomes an unwilling slave to something that she did not ask for.
Inde Navarette, who portrayed Nikki, is even more impressive in her role. She’s certainly attractive enough to warrant the affection that Bear so deeply craves, but she transitions from warm and friendly to maniacal and unpredictable, sometimes switching personas from one instant to the next, in a way that is believable, which shows real acting ability. These two performances by Michale Johnston and Inde Navarette are what elevate Obsession from mediocrity into a must-see summer film for horror fans.
You may experience exhaustion at times as you witness Bear sticking by Nikki’s side through everything she says and does. There are plenty of moments when you may find yourself yelling out loud at the lovestruck character, wishing you had a One Wish Willow you could break open to get him to just walk away from her. But once you realize that he cannot, that he has her for life, and his only escape is death, this is when you see him as the film’s antagonist.
Once you dismiss the implausibility factors in the storyline, something that, let’s face it, audiences are required to do in order to enjoy most horror films, Obsession becomes a fun, cringe-worthy ride as the filmmakers take you into the dark world of obsessive love.
This is an amusing and thrilling horror film that is skillfully done both on screen and behind the scenes. Obsession is 26-year-old Curry Barker’s debut studio feature made on a flimsy $750,000 budget. Just two weekends after opening on May 15, the film took in more than $80 million at the box office worldwide.
It remains to be seen if Barker turns out to be the next James Wan or Jordan Peele, but he’ll certainly be given the opportunities, not to mention bigger budgets to work with going forward. In fact, it’s recently been announced that A24 Films has tapped Barker to reimagine The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, an inspirational film for Barker and one of the genre’s most renowned properties.
How did Barker do it?
It makes you wonder if he cracked open a One Wish Willow himself.
Actually, Barker aspired to be an actor when he left his home in Mobile, Alabama at eighteen to study at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. This was where he met Cooper Tomilson, a fellow student. The two started making short comedy and horror videos for their YouTube channel, ‘that’s a bad idea.’ It was a period in his life that Barker described as ‘our film school outside of film school.’
Milk & Serial was a 2024 found footage horror flick that Barker shot himself for a mere $800 and allowed it to be viewed for free. The sixty-two-minute film racked up more than 2.5 million views and eventually got Barker signed by UTA, the prominent global talent agency in Beverly Hills.
Barker may not have gotten where he is today because of a One Wish Willow, but odds are he’s not going to be a one-hit wonder.
Published 6/3/26