If you only had one wish, what would it be? For typical “nice guy” Bear (Michael Johnston), it’s to have his ultimate crush fall madly in love with him. He’s been meaning to confess his love to his co-worker and close friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette), but just can’t make up the courage to do so. So when he finds a seemingly innocent novelty toy called One Wish Willow in a gift shop, he wishes for Nikki to love him “more than anything in the world.”

Made with a humble $750,000 budget, writer-director Curry Barker’s Obsession has already grossed more than $400 million at the worldwide box office. This supernatural flick is just the latest success in a recent string of horror hits from sketch comedians turned filmmakers. In this case, it’s all because the premise has, at some point in our lives, resonated with us. But Barker take the old saying “be careful what you wish for” to whole new heights.

Barker’s film gets darker and more sadistic as it goes, filled with grotesque visuals that no cheap jumpscare (which this film has none) could ever replicate. Several innocent people suffering from collateral damage in unexpectedly brutal ways, as a result of Bear’s insecurity and selfishness, makes Obsession such an unsettling watch. Additionally, it’s noticeable how Barker has a tight grasp on the technical aspects of horror in the way he uses lighting and blocking his shots, but it’s his unorthodox editing (possibly a product of his comedy background) really elevate the film’s eerie and destabilizing atmosphere.

Inde Navarette’s star-making performance is what truly makes this film come alive. It’s incredible how seamless she switches the real Nikki on and off in her outbursts, showing us the real human being desperately trying to get out. Losing her autonomy as an intelligent hopeful girl and turning into a demon-possessed husk is undeniably tragic.

Underneath all the scares and the violence, however, Barker’s script is a subtle commentary on the increasing aversion to being vulnerable in relationships among young people. Michael is afraid of rejection and the possibility of ruining his friendship with Nikki, so he opted for a shortcut instead. And that never works.

Obsession has cemented Barker as one of the new horror creators to watch. He’s already slated to helm a reboot of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and an original horror film for Universal Pictures. Whether he can capture the same lightning-in-a-bottle magic again as he did with Obsession remains to be seen.

Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.