Obsession (2025) Movie Review

Obsession (2025) Movie Review: Be Careful What You Wish For

The idea of being careful what you wish for is a story element we’ve seen countless times before and even the concept of wishing for unnatural desires coming with devastating consequences is far from new. Obsession uses this familiar trope as its foundation but what makes the film stand out is the disturbing direction it takes afterward. This is an absolutely wild and relentlessly stressful horror experience from start to finish. The tension rarely lets up and the film delivers some of the most unique and memorable horror imagery and concepts making Obsession the best horror film we’ve watched so far this year.

After fumbling his attempt to confess his feelings to Nikki (Inde Navarrette), Bear (Michael Johnston) turns to a mysterious “One Wish Willow” object and wishes for Nikki to love him more than anyone else in the world. To his shock, the object actually grants his wish exactly as requested. But as Nikki’s affection spirals into something increasingly unnatural and terrifying, Bear realizes that some desires come with a dark and sinister price.

Obsession is deeply unnerving. Just when you think you understand where the story is heading, the film propels itself with horrifying twists that fully explore the terrifying implications of forcing someone to love you at all cost. Beyond the scares, the film is packed with disturbing and thought-provoking ideas that challenge what genuine love and desires are. Director Curry Barker proves incredibly effective at building tension and sustaining dread throughout the film's runtime. And even in moments where the outcome feels predictable, the execution remains terrifying because of how intensely the scenes are created. 

The film also benefits greatly from the performances of its leads. Inde Navarrette is phenomenal as a girl trapped in an obsessive and unnatural infatuation balancing vulnerability and terror in equal measure. Michael Johnston is equally impressive as the awkward and socially struggling Bear whose desperate affection slowly transforms into genuine fear. We came into Obsession with extremely high expectations, and somehow the film still managed to exceed all of those. Beneath all the terror and chaos lies a surprisingly layered exploration of love, obsession, control, and the consequences of selfish desires.

  

Rating: 4 and a half reels