If you would do anything for love, make sure it doesn’t lead you down a dark path.
This weekend, “Obsession” makes its debut as an unmissable indie film that delves into the chilling depths of unrequited love. Despite its modest budget and absence of well-known actors, the film stands out in the genre, exploring the perils that accompany the pursuit of one’s desires through a compelling narrative of a flawed man facing his own reckoning.
The story centers around Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a timid music store clerk harboring an unreciprocated crush on his colleague, Nikki, portrayed by Inde Navarrette. Bear, whose name starkly contrasts with his timid nature, is unable to confess his feelings, even when Nikki directly inquires about them. Instead, his lack of awareness leads to her relieved response, “Thank God.” During a visit to an occult shop, Bear discovers a “One Wish Willow,” an enchanting item that grants a single wish upon breaking. He impulsively purchases the item for $6.99, wishes for Nikki’s everlasting love, and shatters it.
The consequences of his wish manifest swiftly, captured in a haunting scene where Nikki, previously inside her house, appears on her porch, illuminated only by the light behind her, rendering her features obscured. Writer-director Curry Barker skillfully uses shadows to portray the possessed Nikki, particularly when she later arrives at Bear’s door in a striking red dress, professing her long-held affection for him. The contrast of her sparkling eyes against the darkness enhances the eerie tension. How did they achieve that effect?
A particularly unsettling moment occurs when Bear awakens at 3:45 a.m. to find Nikki standing silently in the corner of his bedroom, gazing at him from the shadows. When he questions her presence, she responds with a chilling lament, “I don’t like my dreams!” This leads to a disturbing tirade where she claims to love him more than he loves her. Another scene unfolds with a ghostly intensity as Nikki’s original self attempts to break free while the new, possessive Nikki sleeps, pleading with Bear to end her life. Navarrette, known for her roles in “13 Reasons Why” and “Superman & Lois,” powerfully portrays Nikki’s transformation from a composed, albeit tough, woman to an obsessive entity willing to eliminate anyone perceived as a threat to her love.
Barker, who comes from a comedy background, has previously released a short film titled “Milk & Serial” on YouTube. While he exhibits talent in building suspense, the film’s latter half tends to lean too heavily on Nikki’s violent outbursts directed at those surrounding Bear, which slightly detracts from the overall narrative arc.
However, “Obsession” triumphs in crafting a gripping climax, as Nikki acquires her own wish stick while Bear devises a plan to lift her curse in a manner that proves harrowingly traumatic. The transformation experienced by the film’s final victim before their demise adds a haunting element, ensuring that viewers leave the theater with an unsettling chill and the echoes of the lone survivor’s screams resonating during the closing credits.
Obsession
Starring Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette. Written and directed by Curry Barker. Rated R.
