On May 15, the new horror film “Obsession” successfully released worldwide, leaving fans to obsess over the authentic plot, casting and apparent overnight success of director Curry Baker.
The film follows Bear, a shy, awkward young man who has a hopelessly romantic crush on one of his best friends and fellow music store employee, Nikki. Unable to withstand the embarrassment of being rejected, Bear purchases a mysterious “One Wish Willow” device in the hopes that his wish will be the solution to his unrequited affection.
However, his wish for Nikki to “love him more than anyone in the world” ends up taking a dark turn when Nikki becomes possessed and her infatuation teaches Bear the price of his desires.
Opening at the box office with a near $17.2 million domestic gross, the film clawed up the charts among recent record-breaking movies, debuting third behind “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and “Michael.”
While there has been no shortage of historic moments for horror fans as of late, with films such as Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Zach Cregger’s “Weapons” earning recognition at the Academy awards (Oscars), this rated R film flips the script on how the horror genre makes it mark.
In addition to realistic gore, a critically acclaimed score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, a popular film review website and notable featured music, including Current Joys’ “Kids” and “Television,” the portrayal of current day societal issues demonstrates that horror is evolving from mere entertainment to a powerful source of commentary.
The wish that initial protagonist Bear makes ends up turning into a detrimental situation for not just himself, who has to stomach her “obsession,” but more so for Nikki, who must face the consequences of having her life derailed without a say.
The unique plot has critics and viewers alike resonating with the powerful commentary about consent in the modern dating world, with many finding that Nikki isn’t the monster or villain of the story, but the victim.
The haunting couple dominating all of the horror headlines was portrayed by Mexican-American actress Inde Navarrette who played Nikki and queer actor Michael Johnston who played Bear.
Not only do the casting choices, both the diversity within the performances as well as the lack of recognized, A-list actors, reflect this film’s authenticity, but the very circumstances of the director do as well.
Director Curry Baker was just 25-years-old when “Obsession” screened at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and received an overwhelmingly positive response. Alongside his creative collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, Baker had previously pioneered a career via his YouTube channel, often attaching an “indie” connotation to his name and work.
However, just months after his $800 feature-film “Milk & Serial” released for free on YouTube, he now is one of the most in-demand young horror directors in the industry. In fact, “Obsession” is projected to have had around a $750,000 budget and is now securing $2.9 million single-day grosses, making it the cheapest film in 17 years to top the box office.
As both streams and screams continue to rise for “Obsession,” horror fans appreciate the fresh perspective that the film offered and look forward to seeing what is in store for the genre-defying artists.
