Obsession is one of those movies that will stick with you for a long time, teaching lessons that we all really need to be careful what we wish for.
We have all been there. We have all sat alone in the dark, wishing that the person we idolize would finally see us, acknowledge us, or fall for us. But what if that wish were actually granted? What if the universe stopped playing fair and decided to give you exactly what you thought you wanted, regardless of the consequences?
Obsession, the unforgettable horror film arriving in theaters on May 15, takes that age-old “be careful what you wish for” trope and absolutely raises the bar, dragging it into a realm of psychological and visceral horror that I am still unwell from.
The movie follows Bear (Michael Johnston), who is desperate to win the heart of his crush. When he breaks the mysterious “One Wish Willow,” he has no idea what he is in for. At first, it seems like a dream come true. But as the narrative unfolds, the film reveals that some desires come with a dark and sinister price tag.
Going into Obsession, I genuinely thought I had the trajectory of the plot mapped out. I pride myself on being able to spot the twists in a genre film from a mile away, but I promise you, I was wrong. While there are a few moments that lean into established tropes – which, to be fair, ground the viewer before the floor is pulled out from under them – you simply cannot predict how hard or how far this film is willing to push its boundaries.
Michael Johnston (Bear) captures that obsessive longing perfectly, while making the audience feel bad for him. He often looks lonely and desperate. So it is easy to understand why he does what he does. Cooper Tomlinson (Ian) and Megan Lawless (Sarah) provide essential, grounded performances as the supporting cast. They are constantly questioning what is going on with their friends, and not sure how to explain Nikki’s sudden obsession with Bear.
All that to say that if there is one standout in the movie, it is Inde Navarrette. She makes Nikki funny, magnetic, deeply emotional, and soul-shatteringly terrifying, often all within the span of a single scene. There were moments where I found myself wanting to reach out and offer her character a hug, only to be forced seconds later to hide behind my hands, genuinely afraid of what she would do next.
There are, of course, the obligatory jump scares that come with a horror movie, but they aren’t the film’s main weapon. Obsession thrives on a deeply unsettling, lingering terror. The use of lighting is absolutely brilliant here. The director, Curry Barker, makes the choice to hide Nikki in the shadows repeatedly, allowing the audience to barely make out the expressions on her face. Those slivers of light, revealing just enough to be disturbing, had me literally shaking in my seat.
The film certainly does not shy away from the nasty or the gory, but it never feels like it is relying on shock value alone. Obsession is a disturbing examination of the lengths we go to for love and the destruction we leave in our wake. It is easily one of the most effective, horrifying, and emotionally complex films I have seen in a long time.
About Obsession
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.
Obsession played at SXSW 2026.
