Curry Barker’s Obsession is a refreshingly original horror movie that contorts a familiar “be careful what you wish for” moral into a twisted tale about true love.
The film follows a young man called Bear (Michael Johnston) who uses a supernatural force to make his friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) fall in love with him, however as time goes on, Nikki’s behaviour becomes increasingly alarming and destructive. While Johnston’s role certainly demands an intense range of emotion, Navarrette is the clear MVP of this movie and should already be a contender for next year’s award season. Every scene she is in make the viewer feel like they’re watching a grenade, and anticipating the explosion, but even her toned-down moments become more haunting throughout the film. This is surely a breakout performance of a very successful career for Navarrette.
For being only 26, director Curry Barker has remarkable confidence with his storytelling as Obsession is rich with clever cinematography and small moments you’ll only appreciate on rewatches. It’s the type of movie you’ll want to metaphorically cut open to find every little secret and trick Barker nestled within it. Obsession is a movie that does not leave your mind, with the final 30 minutes being an unrelenting spiral of emotions that culminates in one of the most unforgettable final shots I’ve seen in a long time. Like Navarrette, this feels like Barker introducing himself to the world in the best way.
In a world where ultraprocessed blockbusters are going nowhere, Obsession is a golden nugget that shows the future of Hollywood may land in promising hands.
“Curry Barker, Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston” by Nguyk is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.