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| source: metropolisjapan.com |
Synopsis:
Obsession (2025) is a
supernatural horror film that initially appears to be a love story, but
ultimately turns into a nightmare. This is the breakout film from Curry Barker,
a comedian YouTuber making his feature-length debut. It premiered at TIFF on
September 5, 2025, had its U.S. theatrical release on May 15, 2026, and runs for
1 hour and 40 minutes.
The story follows 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 never dared 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 granted instantly. Nikki, who was once ordinary, suddenly
becomes super sweet, attentive, and deeply in love with Bear. But the problem is, this isn’t real love.
It’s the result of magic. Over time, Nikki becomes obsessive, possessive,
violent, and loses control of herself. Bear only then realizes that he has
"manipulated fate" and must now face the terrifying consequences of
his wish.
Critics praised the film’s horror style — a blend of psychological horror and supernatural elements. There aren’t many cheap jump scares. Instead, it relies on a chilling and disturbing atmosphere as we watch love transform into obsession. Many have called it a metaphor for the "horror of the nice guy" who cannot accept rejection. Beyond horror, the film also touches on codependent relationships and manipulation. Bear sees himself as the victim, even though he was the one who started it all with black magic driven by his ego. However, critics also pointed out that the explanation of the magic is minimal. The One Wish Willow toy just appears out of nowhere, and its rules are never explained in detail. It feels like the focus is intentionally more on the psychological aspect than on mythology.
This film stars: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson and more.
In my opinion:
The film is a clear illustration
that "shortcuts" come with frightening consequences. Forcing
something that isn’t meant to happen naturally is like challenging God’s will
for the fate He has already set. The film also highlights how unstable young
people’s thinking can be — so shallow, acting without thinking ahead, and
simply following their desires. As a result, an evil entity answers that young
man’s wish through a medium called the One Wish Willow.
I felt absolutely insane watching
the scenes in this film — not because of gore or blood, but because of the
devastating damage Nikki goes through. All my frustration and hatred was
directed at Bear, because of how irresponsible he was for everything he did. In
the end: chaos. His friends become victims of a young man’s ego while he’s in
love.
I praise the film’s visuals,
audio, and cinematography. Everything is neatly arranged and supports the
story. There are also several promising young actors — I’m sure they will shine
even brighter if given bigger opportunities.
The concept is almost similar to Zach Cregger’s Weapons, in that it uses
a twig as a medium to cast a curse. But in Weapons, it’s much clearer that an
old woman named Gladys is the mastermind behind it all.
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