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by Paul Perez
I finally got around to seeing Obsession, the indie horror film that has been generating a lot of buzz since its festival run, and I can see why audiences and critics have responded so positively to it. After hearing so much about it, I went into the movie with fairly high expectations, and thankfully, it delivered.
Overall, I’d give Obsession an 8 out of 10.
What surprised me most wasn’t the horror elements. It was how relatable the story felt.
A Horror Movie Built on a Very Human Emotion
At its core, Obsession is about wanting someone who doesn’t want you back.
The story follows a young man who wishes for a girl he likes to fall in love with him. It’s a simple premise, but the movie takes that fantasy and explores the consequences in ways that are funny, uncomfortable, emotional, and occasionally creepy.
As a guy, I found the main character surprisingly relatable. He’s not a traditional hero. He struggles with insecurity, desperately wants validation, and often falls into what many people would recognize as “nice guy syndrome.” He wants this girl’s attention so badly that he’s willing to overlook some very obvious warning signs.
There were moments when I found myself cringing because I recognized some of those behaviors. Not because I currently act that way, but because I think many people have experienced similar feelings at some point in their lives.
That’s one of the movie’s biggest strengths. It takes a very human desire and turns it into a horror story.
YouTube Version of this review.
Outstanding Performances
I wasn’t familiar with most of the cast going into the film, but the performances were excellent across the board.
The standout for me was Inde Navarette. The actress plays the girl who becomes obsessed with the main character after the wish takes effect. She completely sells the transformation.
What makes her performance especially effective is that the movie suggests the original version of her is still trapped somewhere beneath this new obsessive personality. Throughout the film, there are moments where she twitches, screams, freezes, or behaves in ways that hint at an internal struggle.
These scenes aren’t particularly graphic (some are) or effects-heavy, but they’re incredibly effective because of how committed the actress is to the role.
Some of the film’s most unsettling moments come from these brief glimpses of the person trapped underneath the obsession.
A Flawed Protagonist Makes the Story Better
One thing I really appreciated was that the movie doesn’t present its protagonist as a perfect hero.
In many films, once the main character realizes they’ve made a terrible mistake, they immediately decide to sacrifice everything to make things right. Obsession takes a more realistic approach.
The main character constantly goes back and forth.
Part of him knows something is wrong. Part of him understands that the situation is becoming dangerous. But another part of him still wants what he wished for.
That internal conflict felt authentic.
People aren’t always brave. People don’t always make the right choice immediately. Sometimes they cling to what they want, even when they know it’s hurting someone else.
The movie does a great job of exploring that complexity.
This Could Work as a Broadway Play
While watching the movie, I kept thinking about how well this story would translate to the stage.
Not as a musical, but as a straight dramatic play.
The film relies much more on performances, character interactions, and emotional tension than on elaborate visual effects. Most of the horror comes from the actors and the situations rather than the CGI spectacle.
Because of that, I could easily imagine Obsession working as a Broadway production with practical effects and strong performances carrying the story.
The concept is strong enough to succeed in multiple formats.
My Criticisms
No movie is perfect, and Obsession does have a couple of weaknesses.
The biggest issue for me was a secondary romantic subplot involving another member of the friend group. The movie repeatedly suggests there might be feelings between her and the main character, but I never fully bought into their chemistry.
The relationship wasn’t bad, but compared to the intense chemistry between the two leads, it felt underdeveloped.
I also found one particular scene involving a customer service phone call somewhat confusing during my initial viewing.
Without getting into spoilers, the scene makes much more sense after hearing the director discuss it in an interview. Once I understood what was actually happening, the scene became significantly more disturbing and effective. However, I do think the movie could have communicated that information a little more clearly within the story itself.
Final Thoughts
What makes Obsession work so well is that it isn’t really about supernatural wishes or horror.
It’s about desire.
It’s about wanting someone to love you and the danger of trying to force something that isn’t meant to happen naturally.
The film combines those themes with strong performances, relatable characters, and a clever premise that stays engaging from beginning to end.
If you’re looking for a horror movie that focuses more on character and psychology than on jump scares and special effects, Obsession is well worth your time.
Rating: 8/10
A smart, relatable indie horror film that proves great storytelling doesn’t require a massive budget. It just requires characters you can understand—even when they’re making terrible decisions.
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