Get Ready to be Obsessed

OBSESSION is the horror fans next obsession. Every remake, sequel, and prequel of the big franchises should hang their head and hide in the corner. Writer/Director Curry Barker does in 100-minutes what many studios have tried a lifetime to do; deliver an unhinged story with no muss and no fuss. Just pure on WTF is happening moments. To quote the young lady watching in front of me, “..my flabber has been gasted.”

Synopsis: After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price. | 1h 48m | Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, sexual content, pervasive language, and brief graphic nudity.

It is a basic love story at first. Bear (Michael Johnston) really likes his co-worker Nikki (Inde Navarrette), but feels like he is treading water in the friends zone. He doesn’t have the confidence or the nerve to say how he really feels. When he comes across a “make a wish” novelty toy in a gift shop he thinks, what the heck. Give it a try. Needless to say, be careful what you wish for has never been so true. Do we really want someone to love us more than anything on the planet? You decide.

Acting. Doesn’t matter how good your story is if your cast can’t deliver. This one could have gone over the top, off the rails, through the roof, or any other direction had lead actress Inde Navarrette not just killed this freaking part. Just throw all the awards at her now. Doesn’t matter. Think horror is easy? Think the genre lacks talent? Watch what she does here and try to keep that same mindset. It has been a while – but we have seen it – since I have witnessed a character go from subtle to insane so quick in one take, and do it so seamlessly. It is organic and the fact it feels so natural makes it that more terrifying.

Bear spends most of his time reacting to this new found romance. He is a truly nice guy and genuinely loves Nikki. So watching him navigate the waters of this relationship makes you feel deeply for him. Even his friends can tell something is off, but how do you even start explaining everything. That is where he is. Johnston seems as caught off guard as we are watching. If he knew what was coming from the script he does a wonderful job hiding it.

Barker does a nice job of bringing the gore and horror at jsut the right moment. We already feel anxious and tense with Nikki and her ways. So when it explodes it is even more impactful. Like a jack in the box. We know it is coming, but it gets us every time. Barker is also smart in that he doesn’t try to do too much or dazzle us with movie tricks. He trusts what he wrote and the people he gave it to. And that is movie magic regardless off the genre

This is not a date night flick for just any couple. You have to appreciate the intensity to enjoy it. If you go in expecting some sort of Fatal Attraction, you get that, but not in the tame, oh she is just a little crazy, way. It is a hard R and earns it. Believe all the hype you have seen on-line. If ever we needed to support smaller budgeted films, now is the time. Especially when they give us something of this caliber.

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Matt Mungle

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