The dark side of desire
When Obsession turns into reality, what was once a dream becomes a living nightmare. Bringing up the tale as old as time, careful what you wish for.
Image from Fandango
The rise of horror in the film scene the past two years is monumental. Obsession is amongst the most recent thrillers that knows how to leave the audience walking away with a lingering feeling they can’t seem to shake. Obsession brings to life the haunting reality of an innocent wish, a boy who wants the girl he’s in love with to see him the same way. However, when obsession turns into reality, what was once a dream becomes a living nightmare. Bringing up the tale as old as time, careful what you wish for.
There was a domino effect of one wrong choice after another. The devolvement of the characters happened at a natural pace, ultimately leading to the climax of the film at the end. I remember leaving the theater just thinking “wow” in reference to the unfortunate ending of all the characters, in particular the psychological impacts of the entire timeline on Nikki Freeman (Inde Navarrette). I like the idea the film brings up of how the selfish actions of ourselves, even unintentional, leave lasting impacts on others long after us.
This isn’t a horror film filmed with just jumpscares (although I can attest they do exist and are incredibly successful in catching the audience completely off guard). It relies on the feelings of internal suffocation, constant surveillance, and the unsettling feeling of realizing you made a choice that cannot ever be changed ultimately leading to your own demise the lead has to sit with. There is a dark undertone throughout the entire film, largely emphasized by the lighting to match the tone of the film. Even in the brightest or most joyful moments, the darkness is still there lingering around the corner. I found that as a viewer, I kept thinking to myself what is going to go wrong next or this won’t end well.
Image from Movieweb.com
The cast fit together well, with Michael Johnston (Bear) and Inde Navarrette (Nikki) leading the pack. I could feel the anxiety, fear, and hopelessness Michael brought to his character with the undertone of insanity he attempted to keep under wraps. Inde brought a stellar performance to Nikki and the darkness that overcame her, successfully bringing humanity to her character constantly. I found that Cooper Tomlinson was the perfect supporting character needed for this film.
Overall Obsession gets a 3.5/5 stars from me. The film was beautifully made in the creepiest way possible. The ending was a masterpiece. Ironically using the word masterpiece with a 3.5/5 stars doesn’t make sense. However, I’m not sure this film will stick with me long term when I think of a thriller that just makes my skin crawl. I might not personally turn right around for a rewatch but I can absolutely see why others are. The idea of wanting to be loved unconditionally is a natural human desire, but what is the darkness that comes with it?
Shelby Ferguson
