Between this, Weapons by Zach Cregger, and Get Out by Jordan Peele, the comedy to horror filmmaker pipeline needs to be studied. Obsession is a horror film written and directed by internet comedian Curry Barker and follows a young man who uses a mysterious toy called a One Wish Willow to wish for his childhood crush to love him more than anyone in the world. Terror and chaos both ensue following this wish, but there are a variety of elements that separate this film from your average horror outing. For starters, the performances. I could absolutely talk about Michael Johnston’s performance as our questionable protagonist, Bear, whose more destructive character traits come to the surface of his initially timid persona once his wish is granted. However, the standout performance here was undoubtedly Inde Navarrette, who played Bear’s childhood crush, Nikki. After the wish takes effect, her behavior becomes gradually more terrifying and violent as the story progresses. Horror isn’t usually my genre of choice, but thanks to these performances, especially Navarrette’s, I couldn’t look away from the screen, despite the film’s utter creepiness and shocking brutality. Every creepy smile, uncanny movement, and violent outburst from Nikki was incredibly chilling. The cinematography, lighting, and the sound design elevated this film to a whole different level as well. With the director being a comedian, there are also plenty of witty dialogue choices and expectation subversions to keep even the most apprehensive horror watchers engaged for the entirety of the film’s runtime. I can’t express enough, though, how unsettling this film was. Not only because of the film’s creepy tone, the performances themselves, or the “be careful what you wish for” narrative. It’s the implication of Nikki’s complete loss of autonomy following the wish being granted that’s just as scary as anything that goes bump in the night. Any horror film that has you discussing its themes or the message it’s trying to convey beyond its scares is a winner in my book. With Curry Barker himself saying that he would like to continue writing and expanding this now established world of wishes gone wrong, I can’t wait to see what he does next. Why are comedians so good at making horror movies? I have to know. Score: 9/10
