REVIEW: "Obsession" (2026)

Genre: Horror; Comedy.

Director: Curry Barker

Writer: Curry Barker

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter

I went to Obsession totally blind besides seeing a released dinner date scene and the movie caught me completely off guard: I loved it!  It's a simple yet well-executed concept that depicts the terror of toxic relationships from the extreme perspective of the horror genre - which is a quite smart concept and a much needed satire about toxic relationships people often endure. It's an unexpected future classic and I believe we will be talking about this flick not only all year long, but also for years to come! 

At its core, Obsession is about "careful what you wish for", but it turns into a movie with a much deeper meaning many might see at surface. Curry Barker writes an ambiguous leading man - perfectly brought to life by Michael Johnston - as Bear gains the audiences' sympathy as the boy next door who's in love with his co-worker Nikki (Inde Navarrette)... and he only has one wish...! I can't say much more because it's such a twisted narrative that I'm afraid I would end-up giving some spoilers away, but once you realise Obsession is not about an obsessed girlfriend but a woman forced to be under a man's will with no option given to her, then you start seeing things differently. What can seem (at first sight) a man with a toxic girlfriend is in fact a self-centered man who can't accept the fact a woman won't do as he wishes and finds a way to make her orbit around him. Bear and Nikki develop a passionate, yet completely toxic relationship - with some everyday things taken to an extreme level in service of horror moments, but things that can actually hurt a relationship - but the director Barker makes it... funny! Yes...! Obsession is a very dark comedy with multiple jaw-dropping moments, but it's always creepy and even able to take your breath away once or twice.

Johnston is great here, but the movie belongs to its leading lady Inde Navarrette who deliver an A level masterclass in acting here, by switching moods, by creeping you out, by making you laugh, by making you scream and jump from your seat - she's the real deal and I don't remember another "a star is born performance" as memorable as hers.

Technically, I found Obsession's craft elements to be actually impressive, specially for such a low-budget film (when there are million-dollar movies made that don't come near this): great sound work that knows how to build the perfect environment for horror moments; a mysterious use of darkness in a cinematography work that seems to be the magic trick to turn Nikki into a haunting presence; nice and simple visual effects that actually work and look realistic; and the makeup work... bloody great makeup work!

In an industry that makes movies with titanic budgets and zero criativity or narrative craft, Obsession is a cinematic lesson and it works because the idea is create, the execution is effective and made with gusto and the acting is incredible. Less is more when you give room for creative minds to take control. I was thrilled, I laughed, I jumped from my seat and I was never bored (I forgot to eat my popcorn and have my drink actually).

A near-perfect horror flick.

RATING: 9,5/10

Oscar potential categories:

• Best Picture
• Best Actress in a Leading Role (Inde Navarrette)
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Makeup & Hair
• Best Sound