Film review: ‘OBSESSION’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’
The intense, atmospheric and darkly comic psychological/ supernatural thriller Obsession falls into the ‘careful what you wish for’ film subgenre. Like a much more sinister and violent Twilight Zone episode, the film sees lovelorn Bear (Michael Johnston) desperate for romance with his work colleague Nikki (Inde Navarrette). While at a shop selling crystals and other faith healing knicknacks, Bear, on a whim, buys a seemingly jokey toy called Make a Wish Willow. It’s basically, a stick that when snapped purportedly makes your greatest wish come true. For Bear, that’s Nikki falling in love with him but when that appears to come true the idealised romance turns into a nightmare as Nikki transforms into a maniacally possessive, increasingly crazed and psychotically violent creature.
This is not the first time we’ve seen this sort of scenario. Similar territory was explored in the aforementioned Twilight Zone and even 1970s Catholic television anthology series Insight. Neither, however, took the story into the dark sinister places this at times obscene and gory film goes. In terms of theme and mood, there’s also a touch of Pet Sematary here. Obsession is essentially a dark satire of dysfunctional relationships and in particular male expectations of women, so it’s not recommended as a date movie.
Director Curry Barker (who has mostly worked in short film) has conjured a palpable sense of dread as he immerses this grim suburban world in a grungy 90s grime. Barker gives the film a gritty texture and we can feel and seemingly smell the fetid place Bear’s dour apartment becomes. There are jump scares but they come when least expected and in strange ways. Barker also plays inventively with tone lowering the anxiety levels as things appear to return to normal before escalating events alarmingly. Surprisingly, though, this film is at times weirdly funny.
The film also succeeds because of the excellent lead performances. Johnston is touchingly sympathetic as a decent guy desperate for a connection with another human being. The film does stretch credulity as to why Bear doesn’t head for the hills as soon as Nikki starts acting like a succubus but Johnston is so convincing in his devotion to her we can believe he would hang around. Navarrette, in a showier role is unforgettable and at times brings to mind Linda Blair in The Exorcist.
The film doesn’t have quite enough plot to fill every one of its 109 minutes, so Obsession occasionally feels repetitive but for the most part its execution as horror and as in many ways tragedy is terrific.
Nick’s rating: ***1/2
Genre: Horror/ comedy.
Classification: MA15+.
Director(s): Curry Barker.
Release date: 14th May 2026.
Running time: 108 mins.
Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.