Obsession

Bear (Michael Johnston, TV's 'Teen Wolf'), the newest employee at Cassel's Music, hangs out with coworkers Ian (Cooper Tomlinson, "Milk & Serial"),  Sarah (Megan Lawless, "Killer Rental") and Nikki (Inde Navarrette, TV's 'Superman & Lois') and has such a serious crush on the latter, Ian's been coaching him on how to tell her how he feels. After missing one opportunity after another, Bear goes to a metaphysical shop hoping to surprise Nikki with a new crystal necklace, but is instead drawn to the One Wish Willow display. Breaking the stick inside the box, Bear wishes that Nikki would love him more than anybody else on earth, but he isn't prepared for becoming the object of her "Obsession."

Laura's Review: B

Writer/director/editor Curry Barker made a big splash a couple of years ago with his found footage YouTube movie "Milk & Serial," but I, for one, didn't get the hype. I'm happy to report that his first studio distributed film is a step up, an anxiety-inducing twist on the old 'be careful what you wish for' Monkey's Paw genre. "Obsession" is also a nice calling card for its main cast, all four convincing as a group of romantically entangled hangout buddies with Navarrette exhibiting a real talent for terrorizing.

After a faux commercial for One Wish Willows, "Obsession" proper begins by introducing Bear coming home to double heartbreak, his beloved cat Sandy lying dead on the floor, apparently having ingested some of his medications (we never do learn just why Bear has a medicine cabinet stuffed with prescriptions). He is so distraught that even a call from Nikki about getting together for trivia night doesn't sway him, at least until she tells him she has something important to tell him. Nikki's news is a far cry from what Bear had hoped to hear as she's just given her two week notice at Cassel's, and so she convinces him to come out that evening as their time together now apparently has an end date.

Bear gets a prime opportunity to address his feelings when Nikki needs a ride home, but when he tells her he 'got her something,' her reaction isn't encouraging, so after dropping her off, he uses the wish stick himself. Suddenly Nikki is back on her front steps, then at his car window asking him if we wants to come in, then back inside his car telling him her father has cancer and she doesn't want to be alone. She spends the night at his place, but when Bear gets up the next morning and finds Sandy laid out in his kitchen surrounded by candles, Nikki's 'memorial' should be his first big, red flag. Instead he finds himself expressing elation to Ian at work as Nikki watches them from the register, a big grin on her face. Ian and Sarah are perplexed by the sudden deep dive Bear and Nikki have taken into romance, both knowing things they've yet to share with Bear. But soon enough, Bear realizes something is very wrong when he awakens at 3:45 to find Nikki barely visible in the corner of the bedroom, stating that she likes to watch him sleep, and some of her movements begin to seem like the decidedly inhuman articulations of possession. When Nikki adds self harm and violence to her repertoire, Bear becomes determined to reverse the spell, but discovers One Willow only allows one wish and his only recourse is to either die or get someone else to wish his away.

The screenplay is admittedly holey, things such as how Sarah knew Bear's cat had died when he hadn't even told Nikki or why Ian would encourage Bear to pursue Nikki after what we learn later, not really adding up. Barker also muddies up his main horror element, Nikki's weird actions not always related to romantic obsession, which would have given the film more power. And the film's ending isn't as neatly tied up as it could have been, events left to simply trail off. Effects are a bit dubious as well, Sandy looking like a stuffed animal, the damage to a murder victim's face achieved well before it is warranted by the pummeling being given it. Barker employs numerous jump scares via loud noises, but they're very effectively done. His best effect, though, is Navarrette, whose creepy grin could star in "Smile" and whose piercing shrieks invert the meaning of Scream Queen.

Johnston does the shy, lovestruck guy well, his anxiety mounting as he tries to navigate his new love's inexplicable behavior within their friend circle. Tomlinson's a solid wingman. Lawless adds some grounded sanity as the obvious match for Bear. Andy Richter ("Elf," TV's 'Conan') is the cast's biggest 'name' in a small role as Cassell Music boss Carter.

Production design shines in Bear's small home, looking just like the inheritance from his grandmother it's supposed to be, a detail which also fleshes out his character. Rock (no relation to film composer Carter) Burwell's score is more atmospheric droning than melody, adding to the movie's overall tension. "Obsession" may not dot every i and cross every t, but it should keep you on the edge of your seat when you're not jumping out of it.

Focus Features releases "Obsession" in theaters on 5/15/26.