Obsession Review – Movie
I’ve seen a lot of horror movies.
Mainstream hits. Cult classics. Weird low-budget experiments. Ridiculously over-the-top gorefests like The Terrifier. And with the original Saw still being one of my all-time favorite movies, I tend to take horror pretty seriously.
That’s probably why I’ve had so many experiences over the years where a movie gets massively hyped up, I finally go see it, and leave the theater wondering: how did people actually think that was good?
Thankfully, Obsession wasn’t one of those horror movies.
I was locked in from start to finish.
This movie manages to be creepy in a way that gets under your skin, and at times it almost weaponizes cringe in the best possible way. There are violent moments, some well-placed jump scares, and several scenes that felt uncomfortable in a way most horror fans will appreciate.
The story itself was compelling too — and that’s not always easy to pull off in horror. Even though the core idea isn’t exactly groundbreaking, it still felt fresh enough that I never found myself checking out mentally. There were also more than a few hidden themes and details I started piecing together while watching, but I’ll keep those to myself because this is a movie that deserves to be experienced without any spoilers.
And when the credits rolled? I kept thinking about it.
That matters.
Too many horror movies either completely fall apart at the ending or try so hard to shock you that they forget to actually stick the landing. Obsession avoided that trap and nailed its ending. It gives you something to think about after the movie is over, which always elevates the whole experience.
Special praise has to go to Inde Navarrette (as Nikki), who turned in one of the standout performances of the film. Horror lives and dies by whether you buy into what the actors are selling, and she brought a level of authenticity and emotion that elevated several scenes. Performances can make or break a movie like this — and this cast delivered.
I also caught a few vibes that reminded me of the Smile series — and considering I’m a big fan of those movies, I’m not complaining.
My biggest criticism is that parts of the movie felt a little predictable. I guessed more than one major beat before it happened, which took away some tension. And while the violence still landed, there were moments where the lower budget showed through visually.
But honestly? That budget story might be one of the coolest things here.
Written and directed by just 26-year-old Curry Barker, this movie reportedly came together on a budget of around $750,000. And it proves something I wish Hollywood remembered more often:
Movies do not have to cost half a billion dollars to be entertaining.
Great acting. Great pacing. A perfect runtime. A compelling story. And a director whose next film I’m suddenly interested in.
That next film, Anything But Ghosts, is expected to star Aaron Paul — and after this?
Yeah, I’ll be keeping an eye out for a release date.
This one was better than I expected and that’s one of the best compliments I can give a horror movie.
