Obsession makes the most of its minimal story and budget, delivering a film with an escalating sense of dread that seems to perfectly capture the psyche of today’s movie-going audience.
What Is It?
This psychological horror film follows a lonely young man who uses a mysterious artifact known as the “One Wish Willow” to make his longtime crush fall in love with him. His wish comes true, but the unnatural romance quickly spirals into a terrifying nightmare as the consequences of his desire twist into a violent and deadly obsession.
Release: May 29, 2026, In Theaters
Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter
Crew: Curry Barker (Writer/Director), Rock Burwell (Music)
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts:
Obsession gives us an exercise in minimalist movie-making, coming from someone who got his start as one half of the YouTube sketch comedy duo That’s a Bad Idea. Considering Curry Barker’s comedy origins, the horror elements of this film might be surprising, but he had also previously directed the horror short The Chair, which is what brought him to the attention of Tea Shop Productions. From that, he got the deal to do Obsession, and Barker made the most of the limited budget afforded him.
The premise is pretty simple: one man has been fawning over a girl for years, and now he gets the opportunity, through supernatural means, to elevate the relationship from friendship to romance. And this being a horror film, those of us going in have a pretty good idea of how things are going to work out. But Barker does a first-rate job of guiding the story so that it does not feel by the numbers and offers a sufficient number of twists and turns along the way.
I have heard this referred to as a Gen Z movie, largely because of the age of the cast and crew and because it tackles themes such as parasocial attachment, entitlement, consent, emotional isolation, and awkward modern relationships, all of which resonate with that audience. But Obsession is not made just for the Gen Z group, as the ideas it explores and the way it approaches them have broader appeal, meaning that an older viewer like myself can appreciate the development of the story and the blending of horror elements.
And while we pretty much know how things will pan out from the moment that Bear makes his rather lurid wish (“I wish Nikki Freeman loved me more than anyone in the fucking world”), the film does a good job of building up the dread and keeping the audience anticipating what will come next. Bear seems to be trapped in his wish at first, and we may even have some sympathy early on, but ultimately we get a better view into his character and decide to just stick around for the inevitable car crash of his creation.
The main cast are mostly newcomers, though you may recognize a few faces from smaller previous roles (i.e., Michael Johnston was in the Teen Wolf TV series and Inde Navarrette showed up in Superman & Lois). For the most part, they do a good job, though there are a few moments here and there that could have been more polished. Still, it is what you would expect from the limited budget, and it does not derail the film. And for the most part, Inde Navarrette as Nikki and Cooper Tomlinson as Ian manage to stand out the most with their roles.
Among the most interesting aspects of this movie is that it has turned into such a hit this summer. Arriving in theaters amidst mega-dollar blockbusters like The Mandalorian and Grogu, Masters of the Universe, and Disclosure Day, this horror entry, made on less than a million bucks, has outperformed them all and has set records for an indie film. Considering the incredibly dark nature of the movie, that certainly seems to be saying something about the psyche of this country these days. And while I know that the audience has been primarily in the 18-34 bracket, there are plenty more people going as well. So apparently dark and foreboding is more attractive to the general movie-going public at this point than the escapist entries that tend to dominate the Box Office this time of year (extrapolate from that as you will).
Ultimately, it is worth seeing the film even though it is quite grim. It is an example of how good movies can be made without throwing millions and millions at them, and even a simple premise can be given a new spin. This one is pretty intense, so be prepared going in. But Obsession is one of the “it” movies of the moment, and it’s worth seeing while it’s still fresh in the public eye.
What’s Next?
Despite making $475 million worldwide in theaters (so far), no sequel is planned for Obsession at this point. But Curry Barker is working on his next film, titled Anything but Ghosts, and that will exist in the same world with references to the prior movie. He has also said that he has considered an anthology television series with each episode focusing on a person who makes a wish. So more from this director is on the way, likely exploring similar themes and creating a shared universe.
Where Can You Watch It?
Obsession is still in theaters, but it has also hit VOD and you can stream it with a subscription to Peacock. It has also been released on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD.
Did you watch Obsession and does it deliver a good horror film, or did you thin it came up short? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.
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