Written and directed by Curry Barker, Obsession is one of those horror films that completely sneaks up on you and reminds you why the genre can be so effective when it focuses on character, atmosphere, and concept instead of just relying on jump scares. Starring Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, and Cooper Tomlinson, the film follows a hopeless romantic who purchases a mysterious supernatural item called The One Wish Willow in hopes of making his longtime crush fall in love with him. Unfortunately for him, when the wish actually comes true, her affection quickly spirals into something obsessive, dangerous, and deeply unsettling.
Going into this film, I was already pretty excited. The trailer looked great, but the hype really started to build for me after talking with Cody Leach during a recent collaboration. He had seen the film early at a festival screening and spoke incredibly highly of it, even calling it his favorite horror film of the year before it had officially released. After finally seeing the film for myself, I can confidently say the hype was absolutely justified.
Not only is Obsession my favorite horror film of 2026 so far, it may honestly be my favorite film of the year in general.
What impressed me most about the movie is just how tight and well thought out the script feels. This is the kind of film that takes a simple concept and squeezes every ounce of potential out of it. So many movies leave you thinking about missed opportunities or ideas that felt underdeveloped, but Obsession rarely ever feels that way. It genuinely feels like Curry Barker carefully considered every angle of the premise and how the supernatural elements would affect these characters and their relationships.
Even though the story mainly centers around Bear, played by Michael Johnston, and Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, the supporting cast still feels purposeful and important to the overall narrative. Nothing here feels wasted. By the time the movie ended, I found myself appreciating just how focused and confident the filmmaking was.
The performances are fantastic across the board, but Indie Navarrette especially deserves a ton of praise here. I had previously seen her in Superman & Lois, but this performance is on an entirely different level. She manages to be both sympathetic and incredibly unnerving at the same time. As Nikki’s affection slowly evolves into full-blown obsession, Navarrette makes every scene increasingly uncomfortable in the best possible way.
Michael Johnston is equally strong as Bear. The movie does a really good job early on of making you root for these characters. At first, it almost feels like the setup for a romantic comedy or romantic drama. There’s a sweetness and charm to their friendship, and the film intentionally leans into that with brighter visuals and lighter moments. But once the obsession starts taking over, everything slowly becomes darker, creepier, and more emotionally toxic.
The film also looks incredible. The cinematography, lighting, and color grading give the movie a dark and bleak atmosphere that perfectly complements the story. Composer Rockwell Burwell delivers an ambient and unsettling score that adds tremendously to the tension, and the sound design throughout the film constantly keeps you on edge.
More than anything though, what really stuck with me was just how unnerving the film is. Horror movies today often rely heavily on loud jump scares, but Obsession gets under your skin in a much different way. There were multiple moments in this film where I genuinely felt uncomfortable watching what was unfolding. One particular scene involving Nikki watching Bear sleep gave me full body goosebumps. It’s the kind of horror that crawls under your skin rather than simply making you jump in your seat.
What also elevates the film is the commentary underneath all the horror elements. Beyond the obvious “be careful what you wish for” message, the movie explores codependency, toxic relationships, emotional manipulation, and the way unhealthy love can completely consume people. Even though the film heightens everything through supernatural horror, the emotional core still feels grounded enough to connect with real experiences and relationships people have either lived through themselves or witnessed around them.
That relatability makes the horror hit even harder.
What I ultimately love most about Obsession is that it fully commits to its premise. The film constantly escalates in ways that feel natural while never losing sight of the emotional consequences of what’s happening. There were never moments where I felt like scenes or characters existed purely for filler. Everything feels intentional, and that level of focus is something I deeply appreciate as both a horror fan and a film fan in general.
I genuinely believe this is going to end up being one of the most talked about horror films of 2026. It’s smart, deeply uncomfortable, visually impressive, emotionally effective, and anchored by fantastic performances. More importantly, it’s the kind of movie that makes you want to immediately discuss it with other people after the credits roll, and to me, those are always the best kinds of films.
Obsession absolutely lived up to the hype for me, and I genuinely cannot wait to watch it again.
Rating: 10/10