Obsession (2025) Review: When Love Becomes a Supernatural Nightmare

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source: tv.lk21

Published: July 19, 2026 | Edited: October 6, 2026

Synopsis: 

Obsession (2025) is a supernatural horror / romance thriller directed by Curry Barker with a runtime of 108 minutes. So far, Obsession has received a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is Curry Barker's breakout film, a comedian YouTuber making his feature film debut. It premiered at TIFF on September 5, 2025, was released in US theaters on May 15, 2026, and has a duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes. 

At first, the film looks like a love story, but in the end, it turns into a nightmare. It tells the story of Bear (Baron), a shy guy who works at a music store. He has had a crush on his childhood best friend Nikki for a long time, but he doesn't dare to confess his feelings. Out of frustration, Bear buys a mystical toy called the One Wish Willow. He then makes a wish to the toy for Nikki to love him more than anything in the world. His wish is instantly granted. Nikki, who was previously just normal, suddenly becomes super sweet, attentive, and madly in love with Bear. But the problem is, that love is not real love, it's the result of magic. Over time, Nikki becomes obsessive, possessive, violent, and loses control of herself. Bear then realizes that he has "manipulated destiny" and now has to face the terrifying consequences of his wish.

Critics praise the horror style of this film, a combination of psychological horror and supernatural. There are not many cheap jump scares. It's more about a tense and disturbing atmosphere from seeing love turn into obsession. Many say it is a metaphor for the "horror of the nice guy" who cannot accept rejection. Besides horror, the film touches on codependent relationships and manipulation. Bear feels like the victim, even though he was the one who started it all with black magic because of his ego. However, critics have criticized the minimal explanation of the magic. The One Wish Willow toy just appears out of nowhere, its rules are not explained in detail. As if the focus is more on the psychological aspect, not the mythology.

This film stars: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson and more.

In my opinion:

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This film is a clear depiction that "shortcuts" have terrifying consequences. Forcing something that does not happen naturally is like challenging God and the destiny He has already set. This film also shows how unstable young people's thinking can be, so shallow without thinking long-term and only following their desires. As expected, an evil entity answers the young man's wish through a medium called the "One Wish Willow."

I really felt crazy watching the scenes in this film, not because it was sadistic or gory, but because of seeing the extraordinary damaging effect experienced by Nikki. Feelings of annoyance and hatred were all poured out on Bear, because of how irresponsible he was for all his actions. As a result, chaos ensues, his friends become victims of the ego of a young man who is in love.

The concept of this film is also interesting because it turns "Love Bombing" into a nightmare. Why? This is not a ghost, this is a critique of parasocial relationships and nice guy syndrome. Making the audience, both men and women, relate to it.

I praise the visuals, audio, and cinematography of this film. Everything is neatly arranged and supports the flow of the film's story. Some potential young actors, for example, Inde Navarrette's acting is 'INSANE' because she can transition from sweet to creepy without jump scares, just through her gaze. I am sure she will shine even brighter if given a bigger opportunity.

The concept of this film is almost similar to Zach Cregger's film Weapons, so it uses a twig as a medium to cast a spell. But in Weapons, it is much clearer that an old grandmother named Gladys is the mastermind behind it all. Unfortunately, in this film, it is a bit rushed, many say the ending is too brutal and leaves a plot hole about the origin of the One Wish Willow.

For me this one is 7.5/10.

Knowledge Center:

Before it was a horror movie, it was folklore. Across Scotland, England, and Japan, people have tied ribbons, coins, and handwritten wishes to sacred trees for centuries. Known as Clootie Trees and Tanabata bamboo, they were believed to carry your wish to the spirits. But the old rule was clear: never wish to control another heart. Break a branch instead of tying a ribbon, and the wish turns into a curse. This is the real myth behind Obsession (2026).

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In the film Obsession, Bear only needs to break a twig of the One Wish Willow and whisper a wish for Nikki to love him. It sounds simple, but it turns out this concept is not made up by the director. Humans have believed for centuries that trees can grant prayers. So does the One Wish Willow really exist? This time, the KC column will present several myths of wish-granting trees in the real world.

Wishing Trees in England and Scotland (Clootie Wells). This is the closest origin. In Scotland, there is a tradition of sticking cloths (clootie) or ribbons to a tree near a holy spring. If the cloth decays, your illness or wish will be granted by the guardian spirit of the forest. But if you take someone else's cloth, the curse transfers to you. Until now, this tree still exists on the Isle of Maree, Scotland.

Ema and Tanabata in Japan. Very similar to the film. At Shinto shrines, people write wishes on small wooden boards called Ema or colorful paper called Tanzaku during the Tanabata festival, then hang them on bamboo trees. The tree is considered a bridge to the gods. But the rule is: never ask for a selfish wish or impose your will on others, it is considered a curse.

Willow, The Magic Tree in European Folklore. Why does it have to be a Willow tree? In Celtic mythology, Willow is the tree of the moon, death, and magic. Its drooping branches are considered a veil between the human world and the spirit world. That's why it is often used for love rituals and curses.

Coin Trees in England. In the Peak District, there are trees whose trunks are covered with embedded coins. People believe that if you embed a coin and make a wish, the tree will "hold" that wish. If the coin falls, your wish fails.

The Lesson from the Film Obsession, why did Bear's wish become a curse? In all myths, there are 3 golden rules that Bear broke:

1. Don't ask to control someone else's heart.
2. Don't break it, just tie it (Bear broke the twig).
3. One wish = one sacrifice.

The One Wish Willow is not fiction, but an ancient warning about be careful what you wish for.