Why Curry Barker's Obsession is One of the Greatest Films of 2026 - Film Review
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
Easily one of the most thrilling and enticing horror experiences I’ve had in the cinema in a very long time. Obsession had a magnetism that I couldn’t bear to look away from. The performances, the cinematography, the lighting, the soundtrack, every element of the feature felt intensional and purposeful. I was scanning every corner of the frame, peaking through my fingers for the next inevitable jump scare that knocked my socks off.
Obsession isn’t just a horror film about a toxic relationship, or even a possessive girlfriend. This is a film about the moral compass of autonomy, the question of true love, intimacy and exploitation. The messages are there, the meaning is hidden in plain sight, Obsession is a deeply disturbing, unforgettably eery commentary on the abuse of power and the misuse of choice all wrapped up into a supernatural magical spell of madness and chaos.
Obsession is intelligently able to serve the stereotypical ‘crazy girlfriend’ narrative whilst simultaneously commenting on the abuse and manipulation of female autonomy. In all seriousness, Obsession is a borderline feminist body horror. It tackles the notion of a woman loosing agency over her own body, being trapped in a relationship against her will and being forced in complacency. Bear, although he is perceived at the classic, shy ’nice guy’ in reality he acts as the films ultimate villain against himself and particularly Nikki. He ignores her suffering and lives in the madness of his own invention, Nikki and Bear are incredibly complex characters who have exceptionally intriguing story arcs.
Inde Navarrette gives a breathtakingly, spine chilling performance as Nikki. She jumps from Nikki to the entity in a moments notice and is able to perfectly balance the calm seduction with the isolated victim. Her range as an actor is a sight to behold and she demands the screen in every frame. Her vocal range, interchanging between sharp screaming to soft apologies in seconds, I was enchanted by her performance from beginning to end.
Michael Johnston acts as the soft, somewhat innocent lover boy who just wants to be wanted. Instead of reading signals and accessing the situation like a regular person, he opts for the magical one wish willow. Johnston takes Bear on a chaotic, anxiety inducing character arc, from the shy individual at the beginning to the broken man by the end. Johnston acts as a perfect catalyst for everything Nikki is forced to do, he brings a sense of vulnerability to the deeply flawed character of Bear and I loved his interpretation of the character.
I was blown away by the sheer tension built in every scene, I was awaiting a scare around every corner. I was on edge from the moment the film started and that takes real skill. I was enthralled into the story, the execution and the overall fascination with the one with willow.
Obsession was shot on a micro-budget meaning director Curry Barker brought initiative to the set. He was able to bring highly professional and deeply impactful camera movements and lighting choices to this feature which added to the overall atmosphere and tension building. I was particularly blown away by the extreme lighting, after the one wish willow was broken Nikki’s face was cast in shadow. Extreme dark shadow, her face was absent from the scene but it didn’t matter. The lighting supported the concept that Nikki has no agency and she is voiceless, faceless and ultimately a toy in Bear’s playtime.
Also, the in world search engine is called ‘probe’… I think me and curry need a chat. Film probe must have inspired him, hehe.
Overall, Obsession is one of the greatest horror films I’ve been in a long time because it had a meaning behind the gore. It had a message behind the terror and most of all it had me replaying moments over and over in my head for hours after. The images of Nikki are ingrained in my memory and I don’t want them there! I am enamoured by the excellence of the writing, the performances and the extreme lighting choices. Obsession is, dare I say, a perfect horror film.
Probe Points
★★★★★
Comments