Director: Curry Barker
Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter
Screenplay: Curry Barker
109 mins. Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, sexual content, pervasive language, and brief graphic nudity.

Obsession was the big horror movie of MSPIFF this year, the one I’d been hearing whispers about, and I firmly believe that this is one of the horror films people will be talking about for the rest of the year. It’s got big popping moments that are quite memorable, even though the story is very by-the-numbers and the main character is frustratingly unlikable. It’s clear to see that director Curry Barker (Milk & Serial) has style, even if I don’t think it makes for a great horror film in this instance.

Bear (Michael Johnston, Slash) has been hopelessly in love with Nikki (Inde Navarette) for as long as he’s known her, but he just can’t find the words or the courage to admit it, even when asked point blank. When he discovers an odd novelty toy called the One Wish Willow, allowing the user to grant one wish, he uses it to ask for Nikki’s undying love. He quickly learns that his wish has been granted, he and Nikki quickly become an item, but soon it becomes clear that something’s not quite right with his new girlfriend and she develops an extreme affection and possessive nature that may be too much for Bear…or anyone else who gets in their way.

If you’ve seen any number of Goosebumps, Tales from the Crypt, or The Twilight Zone episodes, chances are you may have come across more than a few episodes that invoke the “Be Careful What You Wish For” concept, especially in the search for unrequited love. I know I’ve seen my fair share, and many of them accomplish what Obsession is aiming for in a much more economical way. By the end of its 109-minute run time, this story feels like it could’ve ended quite some time ago. Surely there’s a feature film version of this idea that works, but I don’t think Obsession fully lands the plane. It feels fairly obvious pretty early on how this one is going to play out, and it more of less does just that. It’s also got one of the most frustrating main characters that I can remember in a recent release. There’s nothing wrong with Michael Johnston’s performance (in fact, he’s quite good in the lead role), but the character of Bear is so unlikable and he’s never the most interesting character in the movie, so there just isn’t much to the character that makes me want to follow him and his journey. I take no issue with his general uncourageness, but Barker leans too far into genuinely distasteful and selfish characteristics.

Most of the film’s greatest moments come from a truly unhinged and excellently heartbreaking performance from Inde Navarette as Nikki. We’re sold early on that Nikki is so lovely and funny and caring, and Navarette accomplishes that expertly. She’s enigmatic and joyful, but then we’re sold on this turn as the effects of the One Wish Willow take effect, and she becomes a completely different version of the character, still loving and affectionate, but disturbingly so, and that are a great many sequences that focus on aggressive and nearly violent love for Bear, which make for some of the most entertaining moments. I specifically call to mind a sequence where Bear comes home from work to find that Nikki’s been standing in the exact same place as when he left, just waiting for him for 8 hours.

Obsession has a lot of promise, and I really loved the way the One Wish Willow was conceptually crafted for the film, including a pre-title ad for the item. I firmly believe that Curry Barker has a future, and the film’s two lead performances are strong, particularly Inde Navarette’s. Unfortunately, it overstays its welcome and doesn’t have many narrative surprises in store, so while I can’t recommend the overall experience, I think Obsession will find its audience.

2.5/5
-Kyle A. Goethe