A Youtuber Just Dropped a Horror Gem With 95% on RT – and It's Way Better Than It Has Any Right to Be

Following the success of Talk to Me, film studios began actively scouting independent platforms for hidden gems. James Harris, a producer at Tea Shop Productions, took notice of Curry Barker, the writer and director of the popular vlog That's a Bad Idea.

Since 2016, Barker has been creating pranks, comedy sketches, and short horror movies. In 2024, he released the 60-minute horror flick Milk & Serial.

Despite its $800,000 budget, his new movie Obsession has already been hailed as one of the best horror films of the year.

What Is 'Obsession' About?

Bear has had a crush on Nikki for years. His friends have begged him to ask her out, but the shy guy has missed every chance. Thinking of giving her a symbolic gift, he wanders into an esoteric shop and buys a box of One Wish Willow.

The shopkeeper warns him not to complain if anything goes wrong but nothing ever goes according to Bear's plan.

Embarrassed to give her such a small gift, he wishes for Nikki to love him more than anyone else in the world. His wish comes true instantly – but not at all as he imagined.

'Obsession' Was Shot in Three Weeks on a Budget of $800,000, and It Is Much Better Than Many Big-Budget Films

Drawing inspiration from Stephen King's Misery and the idea that falling in love can turn us into stalkers, Barker wrote a screenplay about obsession and the gap between the fantasy of all-consuming love and its terrifying reality.

The movie was shot in Atlanta in three weeks, spotted by a major distributor at the Toronto Film Festival, and eventually acquired by Blumhouse Productions.

Afraid of making a mediocre movie, Barker spent a long time searching for his own voice. He found a rare tonal balance between old-school horror films with mystical themes, the indie cinema era of improvised dialogue, and modern psychological horror.

Obsession grips viewers with its complex tone, straddling irony and sincerity, awkwardness and fear. You can't predict whether you will laugh out of awkwardness or shudder in horror as the next scene unfolds.

The director doesn't try to modernize the genre or make a deliberately obscure film – he's not afraid to be simple, emulate the classics, and use recognizable genre elements to lull viewers into complacency.

'Obsession' Effectively and Masterfully Executes Its Concept

Bear has no interest in getting to know the real Nikki: if not for her friends, he would never have learned that Nikki was bullied in school, doesn't speak to her father, and dreams of writing a book about love.

These details instantly transform the heroine into a living, breathing, and contradictory person, shattering Bear's image of a convenient, always-emotionally-available woman.

From the beginning, it's clear what conclusions Barker is reaching – his main character is incapable of taking responsibility for others' feelings. However, the predictability of the verdict only heightens the discomfort and curiosity.

It's fascinating to watch the director take relatable fears of rejection to painful extremes and turn human vulnerabilities into fodder for caustic jokes and sophisticated torture.

Obsession's main weapon is Inde Navarrette's bold improvisations – she acts with the desperation of Isabelle Adjani in Possession. Nikki suddenly switches from a pitiful roar to an inviting smile that threatens to burst into a scream at any second.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Obsession'?

• Obsession has 95% from critics and 94% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.2/10.

• On Letterboxd, Obsession scored 4.2/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Obsession'?

Obsession is currently playing in theaters.