Obsession Movie Review

Released: 15th May 2026 (UK & US)

Length: 109 Minutes

Certificate: 18

Director: Curry Barker

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Megan Lawless and Cooper Tomlinson

Modern horror has found great success on the big screen with a range of unique and inventive scenarios that continue to get audiences in seats. After a small-scale debut with Milk & Serial in 2024, Curry Barker has put out Obsession which will have everyone talking for months to come.

In small-town America, Baron “Bear” Bailey (Michael Johnston) is a music store employee with a crush on his colleague Nikki Freeman (Inde Navarrette). Unable to share his feelings and too afraid of rejection, Bear buys and snaps a one wish willow to make Nikki fall in love with him. While at first the deed seems to be a resounding success, it soon becomes clear that Nikki is not herself and a series of grisly events unfolds. The small-scale narrative is told mainly through character interactions across a small number of locations. Obsession’s central theme is right there in the title; Bear shows no real love for Nikki who reflects his biggest insecurities and flaws right back at him. Awkward public meltdowns eventually devolve into visceral breakdowns and other characters in friend group are pulled into the chaos. The plot is unrelenting in its downward spiral, an agonising deterioration of body and mind. Every so often, we get a darkly comedic moment, but Obsession is laser-focused on the two main characters and how romance is warped into possessive control. It gets really distressing in places with its incorporation of more grounded behaviours that still persist in our own society.

Baron is the lead protagonist, but the film cleverly deceives the audience with his perspective. On the surface, he appears to be an ordinary guy caught in a worsening situation with no way of getting out, but there’s no denying that he’s an awful person who is taking advantage of Nikki and her autonomy. While he rarely gets angry or violent, it’s the cold, uncaring attitude underneath that stands out as the film goes on. Poking through the cracks, the audience witnesses just how twisted, selfish and irresponsible he really is. His choices cause immense suffering and any chances at redemption are immediately squandered. This goes so much deeper than other characters in the genre and Nikki herself is even better. Inde’s performance is superb, split into a demented persona who explodes at the first sign of being left out and a terrified woman who just wants the nightmare to end. The actress swaps between the two sides so seamlessly and this allows the production to unleash its most horrifying qualities. The cast has been kept small, but Sarah (Megan Lawless) and Ian (Cooper Tomlinson) are equally interesting. Their interactions with Bear and Nikki tease out plenty of secrets and hidden tensions that add further detail to the narrative.

With a lower budget of 750,000 dollars, Obsession doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to presentation and immersion. The ambient soundtrack immediately stands out, with a heavy use of synths, it creates a sombre atmosphere that never waivers. When it comes to lighting, few can match Obsession when it comes to precision and foreboding tones. Nikki is often shrouded in darkness, but we can still see the nightmarish ordeal she is going through. Practical gore effects smash into the viewer with disturbing results and the camera is always angled just right, often using static shots and lingering on gruesome sights for maximum impact.

Obsession easily ranks among the best films of the year; it’s a deeply unsettling horror title that packs a ton of hidden depth and substance. Add to that two knockout performances from Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette and you’ve got a production that demands your attention.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)