Premiere: September 6, 2025
(Toronto International Film Festival - Canada)
Country of origin:
USA
Director: Curry Barker
Writer: Curry Barker
Production Companies:
Capstone Pictures, Tea Shop Productions, Under the Shell
Distributed: Capstone Global
Genre: Drama, Psychological Horror
Runtime:
1h 48min
Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson
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My guess is that many people reading this have felt rejection at some point. Some may even recognize the darker thought that follows it, the idea of wanting someone to love you completely and only you. That is not a healthy place to stay in, but it is a very human starting point.
That is where Obsession begins.
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Before getting into the film itself, it is worth noting the production context. The film was made on a very small budget with a largely unknown cast and crew. After its unexpected success there has been discussion about compensation for those involved. My view is simple. Agreements made before production should be respected. If extra rewards are given after success, that is a gesture of goodwill rather than an obligation.
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In this film we follow Barren (Michael Johnston), a young man deeply in love with Nikki (Inde Navarrette). The story builds around a wish that feels like a darker mirror of the concept seen in the movie Big (1988). In that film the wish is playful. Here it becomes something far more dangerous. Barren wants Nikki to love him above everyone else in the world. This wish comes true and what follows is where the film changes shape completely. The romantic tone collapses into full on psychological horror.
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What makes it stronger is that the film lets you feel both sides of the situation. You understand Barren’s obsession, you also feel Nikki’s fear and loss of control. That dual perspective makes the emotional impact heavier.
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Barren is played with strong emotional intensity. His performance carries a quiet instability that builds rather than explodes. There is a magnetism in how he moves and how he speaks, that reminded me of Jake Gyllenhaal. It is not about imitation, but about that same controlled intensity that slowly pulls you in.
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Nikki becomes increasingly unsettling as the story progresses. It is not only what she does but the shift in presence that makes her feel unpredictable. At times she feels like a victim of the situation, at other moments she feels almost detached from normal behavior in a way that is hard to read. Inde Navarrette delivers a performance that feels controlled and unsettling throughout, especially in how her character shifts between vulnerability and something harder to define.
As the film moves toward its later stages it does not hold back. There are scenes of intense gore that are brutal and very explicit. This is not a film that softens its impact.
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One of the most interesting choices is the music. Even during tense moments the score often stays calm. That contrast creates discomfort because what you hear does not match what you see. It reinforces the feeling that something is wrong beneath the surface.
What surprised me most is how real the film feels. There is no constant reminder that it is a low budget production. The pacing holds attention from start to finish. I was fully locked in throughout the entire experience. The lighting also deserves mention. Nikki is often framed with parts of her face hidden in darkness. That simple choice adds unease and strengthens her presence in many scenes.
Overall this feels like a modest horror film that delivers far beyond expectation. Strong performances, confident direction and a consistently unsettling tone carry it throughout. It fits naturally within the type of horror films associated with Blumhouse.
I initially assumed Blumhouse had a direct production role because of the branding at the start and the overall style of the film. However, when checking the credits, the production companies are Capstone Pictures, with Jason Blum listed as a producer. That clarified the situation and explained why the association felt stronger than the actual credit structure.
This film starts as something familiar. It ends as something far more disturbing. The core message stays clear throughout: be careful what you wish for. This was a fully engaging experience from start to finish.
10/10
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