Review: Obsession (2026) NO NO NO NO NO!

core: 81/100 (A wildly unsettling exploration of a toxic wish)  

The Breakdown

• Pacing: 8.5/10

• Performances & Character Dynamics: 8.0/10

• Concept & Moral Tension: 7.5/10

• Atmosphere & Sound Design: 7.0/10

The Verdict

Ah, got it—you're talking about Curry Barker’s theatrical breakout. Let’s recalibrate this review to specifically hit the dark, supernatural-comedy wavelengths of his phenomenal indie transition from YouTube sketch comedy to genuine cinematic terror.

Obsession takes the classic "be careful what you wish for" trope and weaponizes it into a deeply uncomfortable, claustrophobic nightmare about entitlement. The film follows Bear (Michael Johnston), an awkward, seemingly harmless music store employee pining after his coworker Nikki (Inde Navarrette). When he acquires a novelty "One Wish Willow" trinket and wishes for Nikki to love him more than anything in the world, the supernatural curse grants his fantasy—and immediately turns it into a suffocating, terrifying reality.  

What makes Obsession punch so far above its sub-$1 million budget is how it balances pitch-black comedy with genuine dread. Nikki’s sudden, unnatural attachment doesn't play out like a romantic victory; it feels like an immediate psychological horror. She latches onto him like an unblinking, codependent shell of herself, perfectly capturing the terrifying loss of bodily autonomy. The physical performances by Johnston and Navarrette carry the film’s high-concept premise beautifully, grounding the surreal mechanics of the curse in raw, unvarnished discomfort.  

Barker's roots in internet comedy serve him incredibly well here. He knows exactly how to build a scene with rhythmic comic timing, only to yank the rug out from under the audience and leave them sitting in a pool of tension.  

Where the film hits a slight ceiling—keeping it at a strong 78/100 rather than a flawless masterpiece—is in its final stretch. As the narrative spirals out into inevitable violence and escalating chaos, it occasionally relies on standard genre conveniences to wrap everything up, rather than fully dissecting the fascinating, complex themes of control it introduces early on.

Ultimately, Obsession is a brilliant calling card for Barker. It proves that his viral success was no fluke, delivering a sharp, mean, and incredibly tense horror film that will make you rethink your deepest, hidden wishes.