A sharp, nasty romantic-horror thriller with a strong satirical streak and a memorable escalation from awkward crush fantasy to full-blown nightmare. It sounds like it works best when it balances cringe comedy, body-horror unease, and a pointed critique of possessive desire.
Obsession
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Horror · Thriller
Wed · 1h 49m
Director: Curry Barker
Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson
Overview
After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
Director
Curry Barker
Cast
Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, nasty romantic-horror thriller with a strong satirical streak and a memorable escalation from awkward crush fantasy to full-blown nightmare. It sounds like it works best when it balances cringe comedy, body-horror unease, and a pointed critique of possessive desire.
Best for
Viewers who like horror with dark comedy and social satire
Fans of relationship-gone-wrong thrillers
People who enjoy escalating, high-concept indie horror
Audiences open to messy, uncomfortable protagonists
Skip if
You want straightforward scares without comedy
You dislike cringe-inducing behavior and toxic romance
You prefer subtle, slow-burn horror over heightened premise-driven chaos
Overview
Obsession takes a simple wish-fulfillment premise and twists it into something meaner, funnier, and more psychologically corrosive than it first appears. The hook is instantly legible, but the appeal seems to come from how far the film is willing to push the consequences of wanting someone too much, too badly, and too selfishly.
Worth noting
The popular response suggests a movie that plays as both crowd-pleasing horror and a sharp joke about insecurity, entitlement, and the social damage of romantic fixation. It sounds especially effective when it leans into visual discomfort and surreal behavior rather than just standard stalker-thriller beats.
Bottom line
For viewers who like their horror with a strong point of view, this looks like a smart, nasty little genre piece with real rewatch value. If the premise sounds too abrasive, it probably is; if it sounds irresistible, the film likely delivers exactly the kind of escalating catastrophe you want.
Top Letterboxd reviews
-ˏˋ mak ˊˎ- (4★) · 128401 likes
the audacity of bear to ask “what’s so bad about being with me?” after putting nikki through every circle of hell imaginable
Megan Bitchell (4★) · 113847 likes
Awesome movie about how rapists should kill themselves
⋆˚࿔ abigail 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ (5★) · 100456 likes
nobody take this in any way but bear looks exactly like if dave franco and charlie kirk had a baby
alex (5★) · 92473 likes
when she started moving like a stop motion character I nearly shit myself
frejaoneill (4★) · 89609 likes
men will literally do anything but confess their feelings
Themes
toxic obsession, wish fulfillment gone wrong, possessive romance, male insecurity, social satire, body horror, dark comedy, consequences of desire
Topics
horror, thriller, dark comedy, relationship horror, psychological, satirical, body horror, indie horror, cringe comedy, 2020s