Obsession (2025) Review

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Bear has been in love with Nikki for seven years and is afraid to even think about confessing his feelings to her. But the girl is about to leave - and he realizes that he may never get another chance. The guy is going to give her a trinket as an excuse for an important conversation, but instead he sees a magic wand in the window of a dubious shop, capable of granting any wish. Naturally, he wishes for the beauty to be madly in love with him...

And he really shouldn't have done that.

“Obsession” is a simple but effective horror debut from director Curry Baker, which is more complicated than it seems at first glance.

The story creates a sense of unease from the very beginning. We see the world through the eyes of the protagonist, who isn't simply insecure. He's indecisive to the point of terror. Bear is a typical young man of the 2020s: a low-paying job, anxiety, loneliness, almost no friends. Nikki is his whole world, a part of which he wants to become, but is afraid of at the same time. And doesn't understand.

 

 

He knows absolutely nothing about relationships. Neither healthy ones nor unhealthy ones. Worse still, he doesn't see the girl as a person. That's why it's so easy for him to choose between an uncertain gesture of care that won't immediately accomplish anything and the guaranteed fulfillment of a selfish desire. Yes, he seriously doubts that a cheap trick will change anything. But trying can't hurt, right?

One careless action - and an avalanche of terrible consequences. Each one stemming from yet more and more mistakes by a hero who is too lonely to stop. When everyone around him starts telling him that such wild romance on speed can't possibly be real," that “this is not normal at all, dude”, - but Bear just brushes them off. He's ashamed, embarrassed, and terrified of losing what he's been missing for seven years.

(Nikki's opinion, of course, was never asked)

The film scares you not so much with any particular images or situations, but with the very atmosphere of brokenness in everything. A small tragedy happened far too suddenly, knocking the hero off balance. The “spell” worked far too quickly. Yesterday's friend, now an obsessed lover, starts behaving far too unpredictably, throwing out such things that even Bear begins to believe in bipolar disorder on methamphetamine.

 

 

An interesting detail: the curse in “Obsession” looks demonic and otherworldly, but in reality it works in a much more mundane way. When Bear broke the magic wand, it “miraculously” projected his own desires and needs onto Nikki. And she became his mirror. Ready to say anything and do anything just to please him. Like a neural network stuck in a loop of people-pleasing and sycophancy. “Yes, you're absolutely right, voices in your head are a sign of being special!” → “Yes, baby, I'll be whatever you want me to be,, I love you more than life…”

A terrifying phrase for someone who was offended by an inappropriate nickname just a minute ago.

 

 

All of this is written with a small dose of humor that arises between the lines all by itself, eventually provoking hysterical laughter. Although I can't call “Obsession” a horror comedy, no. The absurdity of the situation, which sometimes even reaches the protagonist himself, rather complements the picture than dominates it.

What definitely dominates here is the acting performance, first and foremost, Inde Navarrette (remember that name). What a performance! The entire film rests on her charisma and skill. Navarrette manages to switch in a split second between a completely unhinged psychopath, a vulnerable creature, and a bloodthirsty monster, - and back again. And the tantrums her character throws… whether you want to or not, you'll be as meek as silk!

 

 

When watching “Obsession”, another (relatively) recent horror film comes to mind. the unsettling and languid “The Soul Eater” by Osgood Perkins. Yes, the genre and setting are somewhat different (those who watched to the end will understand), but the uneasy presentation and atmosphere are very similar. I especially liked how the film about passionate codependent relationships frames shots and edits scenes: unconventional, confident, picturesque. And the aspect ratio is almost square - Christopher Nolan in IMAX surely appreciated it.

Very cool work for a debut film. The musical accompaniment, admittedly, can't be called memorable, but the sound design - my utmost respect. The visual effects are good too - digital, makeup, everything as we like it (or not: one of the key scenes was even shortened so the film could be released in theaters at all). Everything serves the atmosphere, every element.

A rare horror film that's smarter than it seems, even though it's based on an idea from “The Simpsons” (literally). I recommend it if you're in the mood to have your nerves tickled and think about what unrequited love is like, when one partner gets a cheat code for relationships, and the other willingly breaks. He's sad on pills, she's screaming in his face - the perfect couple.

Rating: 8/10. Dark, funny in places, shocking in places, but overall - true to life. A good film, - one of those that seems like a one-time watch, and yet somehow isn't. Makes you want to watch it again to better pick up on the second layer. Recommended.

Be careful what you wish for: sometimes wishes come true.

 

Автор: Updated at Aug 29th 2026