The Obsession Obsession

Spoilers ahead

Curry Barker is a name in horror you may be familiar with if you are into those 10-to-30-minute-long short films on YouTube. His film ‘The Chair’ has (so far) garnered 9.4m views on YouTube in the 3 years since it was uploaded. With a 25-minute run time, it suitably built atmosphere, executed an effective story, and made me weary of ever buying second hand furniture. Barker proved he has an eye for cinematography, lighting and is full of bold idea, but translating that to a feature length experience is a different challenge.

Obsession’s marketing campaign was promising, but like with many horror films, this doesn't always mean the movies a winner... looking at you Longlegs. The films basic premise was also promising, and mildly familiar... looking at you r/creepypasta; but other than a hope and a dream, I was heading into this film completely blind.

Right from the get-go, the world felt so full and established, and the acting was immediately promising, with the love confession rehearsal from Bear (Michael Johnston) followed by a ribbing from Ian (Cooper Tomlinson), the fuse was lit, and in my opinion, the kaboom came the moment Bear snapped the One Wish Willow.

Barker was not wasting any time in this film, and it didn't go unnoticed. Too many films nowadays fall into the same routine pacing; the trigger event occurs and slowly strange happenings start trickling in until they cannot be ignored any longer, but here, with one split second act from Bear, Nikki’s life was over. The moment we cut out wide to see her stood on her porch in shadow, I knew this film was about to change the horror game. This also happened to be the last moment I existed on this earth without knowing of Inde Navarrette’s electrifying talent.

Everyone in this film was amazing, but Inde Navarrette took my breath away. The moments she swapped from Obsessed Nikki to Real Nikki obviously incredible, watching her snap out of it in a split second, how her whole body and energy shifted was terrifying, how different the two characters were was staggeringly impressive. I have personally not been outright spooked by a movie in a while, but Bear waking up to Nikki stood in the shadowy corner of his room watching him sleep (and all the genuinely unhinged parts that followed) did have me a tad nervous. I also covered my mouth in genuine shock when Nikki ran up from nowhere and obliterated Sarah so brutally. Navarrette’s physical and vocal performance is one that will surely cement itself in horror legend for many years to come.

Other small features I wanted to mention about this film include the clothing and the script. I really appreciated how the clothes were trendy (i don't know, just something I liked), and how the script was realistic without being corny. If I had a nickel for every time a young person’s dialogue within a movie made me cringe to within an inch of my life, I’d be rich, but Obsession did not fall victim to this curse.

Overall, I will always be seated for new, young, self-made filmmakers. Seeing the packed-out cinema for this film made my tiny heart swell, and as the positive reviews keep rolling in it continues to do so. I truly hope Obsession succeeding shows the studios that what the people want is well made horror by passionate creatives, and that more ‘unknown’ (no offence Curry) filmmakers deserve to be given a chance. Obsession is a 10/10, and I can only hope that Kane Parson’s upcoming Backrooms is equally as impressive.

And remember, be careful what you wish for...