Obsession (2026)

Curry Barker has crafted something mostly special for an almost non-existent budget. The story is compelling, the acting is solid, and Obsession feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison to similar horror films. However, it’s disappointing that one shrill character trait nearly ruins the entire film. It’s because of this that Obsession will have to settle for being a well-made, well-written film dominated by one aggressively irritating character, which will hinder future rewatches much like Frank Darabont’s The Mist.

https://bit.ly/1WishWillO

"Bear" (Michael Johnston) has a crush on his pal "Nikki" (Inde Navarrette) but it's a love that dare not speak it's name. He hasn't the courage to even ask her out! When she decides that she has had enough of their two-horse town and wants to move away, he decides to buy her a gift and alights on a "make a wish" toy. Make your wish and it will come true as surely as if it were rubbed out on that lamp of "Aladdin". Well he gives her a lift home, but their parting is a bit wobbly and so in a fit of pique he snaps the gift and makes his wish after she has gone. What he doesn't expect is that it will come true, but that's just the start as the consequences of his hastily considered prayer begin to take over just about everyone's lives - and not necessarily for the better, or the safer, either. Things don't improve much for him when he discovers that his options to reverse his heart's desire are limited in the extreme. It's a toss up between the pair at the top of the billing here, but I reckon Navarrette might just have edged it on the acting front as both deliver positively visceral performances with this horror as it takes on an whole new perspective of maniacally tempramental behaviour and turns any sense of romance into something positively hysterical, menacing and at times quite menacingly gory and funny too. I really did enjoy the denouement and I reckon this is the best I've seen from this genre in 2026 so far. Never mind careless talk, just beware what you wish for?

Full Review: aisleseatreviews.com

"Waking up in the middle of the night with the eerie sense that you’re being watched, only to look down and see your kid standing pitch-black next to your bed staring at you. That is the exact level of visceral dread this movie locks you into."

Obsession is one of those rare, deeply unsettling horror films that doesn't just want to jump-scare you—it actively wants to get under your skin and suffocate you. You get about 15 minutes of relative safety at the start, but the exact second that One Wish Willow snaps, the air is completely sucked out of the room. You could literally hear a collective wave of tension ripple through the theater.

Inde Navarrette is phenomenal. Her ability to instantly pivot from an obsessed, psychotic girlfriend back to a normal, completely terrified Nikki who realizes she's trapped, and then snap right back into the madness is chilling. The bedroom scene where she watches Bear sleep is going to stick with me for a long time.

Massive props to director Curry Barker for making a flawless leap from YouTube horror to the big screen. He relies on old-school atmosphere rather than cheap audio cues, masterfully weaponizing camera placement, shadows, and lingering silence. There is a shot of her just standing there smiling that goes on for so long it made the entire crowd audibly uneasy.

With all the respect in the world, this is a "one-timer" for me because I am in no rush to put myself back through this emotional meat grinder. But it is an absolute must-experience with a theater crowd.

Verdict: Front Row (An Absolute Must-See)

Obsession is an supernatural phychological horror film directed by Curry Barker, a youtuber turned filmmaker and what a crazy film he had made on a budget 1 million dollars. The concept itself is so interesting but terrifying at the same time that will make you think that why and how would Curry had come with such an idea. The film is so layered and deep in it's narrative that after watching the film every time you think about it, you will come across a new perspective and shade of every character. Technically the film is solid, may it be the sound design or the costumes or the prosthetics work or the set design which despite the minimal budget didn't look cheap. Performances of both the lead actors Michael Johnston & Inde Navarrette were exceptional, they nailed their roles. Michael does a great job as an observer, a guy who is terrified with what is going on around him, a guy trying to figure out but a subtle shade of selfishness in his character all along. And on the other side, there is Inde Navarrette, I don't think I have seen a better performance than her in any other film this year, the least the deserves is an Oscar nomination, she was freakin crazy as hell, you will be absolutely blown away with her expressions, her body language, her dialogue delivery, her creepy smile she does, she was just an absolute absolute blast throughout the film. You will hold your head in disbelief watching some of her actions in the film, she will surely make you go shivers down your spine. Overall, It is a crazy crazy ride which will keep you hooked with his 1.50:1 aspect ratio which make you feel something unconventional, uncomfortable and kind of claustrophobic and kudos to Curry Barker for his brilliant screenplay and execution. You need to watch it in cinemas near you at any cost. Just go for it, highly highly recommended.

Curry Barker’s feature debut is a flawless, deeply unsettling masterpiece that takes the classic "be careful what you wish for" trope and turns it into a relentless nightmare. The film centers on a music store employee who uses a supernatural trinket to force his longtime crush to love him, unleashing a wave of horrifying, unhinged consequences. Visually striking and meticulously paced, the movie keeps you completely locked in from the opening frame to its devastating conclusion. What elevates this psychological horror film to absolute perfection are the phenomenal acting performances from Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette. Johnston is brilliant as Bear, capturing a desperate, tragic vulnerability that makes his downward spiral incredibly painful to watch. Navarrette delivers a tour de force performance as Nikki, flawlessly shifting between heartbreaking torment and a chilling, vacant fixation that anchors the entire film. It is an intense, unforgettable ride that stands out as one of the absolute best entries in modern horror.