To leave a long-lasting impression is the essence of a genuinely great horror film. Staying power is how movies stand the test of time, sparking “Where were you?” and “Remember when?” conversations as new classics take shape. For example, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about internet sketch comic Curry Barker’s breakthrough feature, Obsession (2025), since it premiered at TIFF last September. Not often does a horror movie rattle me for weeks at a time — except it’s been over 7 months post-viewing. Obsession is a hundred straight minutes of agonizing discomfort, and now that it’s finally releasing to the masses, it feels safe to call it a landmark horror film of 2026.
A classic monkey’s paw tale, Obsession follows Bear (Michael Johnston), a music store employee and hopeless romantic who casts a love spell on his longtime crush, Nikki Freeman (Inde Navarette). Or, so he thinks. Using similar supernatural mechanics to those seen in Weapons (2025), Bear breaks the mysterious “One Wish Willow” in hopes of making Nikki fall in love with him. We have seen the “be careful what you wish for” trope hundreds of times before, though Barker’s spin reaches new levels of horror. Obsession essentially plays like an episode of Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave but tipped in the other direction, with the horror stemming from a social situation spiraling further and further out of control.
Mom, Pick Me Up, I’m Scared
Where Obsession really excels is in its screenplay, which can shift from funny to terrifying in a fraction of a second. Some fans know Barker as half of the online “That’s a Bad Idea” comedy duo alongside longtime friend and collaborator Cooper Tomlinson (who also stars in Obsession). Their videos generally center around bizarrely awkward social situations, such as “That one friend with no social cues” and “How to get out of a speeding ticket.” Barker and Tomlinson have always leaned into the absurd in their humor, except Obsession cranks things to eleven. Whether it’s a moment of pure terror or an excruciatingly uncomfortable comedic bit, you’ll want to shrink into yourself like a threatened turtle.
After Bear casts the spell, Nikki consequently turns on a dime and suddenly falls head over heels for him — maybe a bit too much. In a similar vein to Barry Keoghan’s demonic turn as Martin in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), Nikki increasingly forces herself into Bear’s life to a degree that’s far beyond sociopathic. Superman & Lois star Inde Navarette devours Barker’s script like no problem, leaving viewers nervously giggling or cowering in fear on a scene-to-scene basis. It’s an emotionally and physically taxing role that Navarette carries on her shoulders, and that taxation is immensely felt through the screen; every viewing of Obsession should be followed up with a long, hot shower.
As You Wish
Let’s cut to the chase: Bear is a coward, portrayed wonderfully by Michael Johnston (Teen Wolf). His distorted view of Nikki as an object of desire rather than flesh and blood not only leads to catastrophe, but it’s also a damning indictment of emotional manipulation. Even as things go from bad to worse for Bear, Nikki is the character that you truly empathize with. Obsession subjects audiences to a brutal amount of secondhand embarrassment, making Bear’s unwitting path of self-destruction all the more painful to sit through. There are countless times where you will want to yell at him through the screen — a staple of a horror film that’s pushing all the right buttons.
Courtesy of Focus Features
There’s a quality to Obsession that feels like watching a car crash in slow motion, but in an oddly good way. It’s a methodical downward spiral of someone getting exactly what they wished for, only for it to completely backfire. Bear is such an aggravating protagonist that you can’t help but watch as he fumbles every good thing around him — all because he’s too afraid to ask a girl out. The worst thing of all is that Nikki, arguably, had reciprocal feelings for Bear without the spell, and he either didn’t know it or was too stupid to notice. Obsession is many things: a horror movie, a comedy, and a love story. Most of all, it’s a tragedy.
A Wonderfully Terrible Time
Aside from the excellently crafted horror-comedy elements, Obsession’s central drama feels almost excruciatingly relatable. Some of us have been in Bear’s shoes, some of us have been in Nikki’s, and some of us have been on both ends. It’s the type of movie that makes you reflect on whether you’re a good person, and will definitely make you relive memories that you would rather leave buried. Assuming the average viewer is capable of the slightest iota of sympathetic thought, they will conclude that, while Bear is the plot’s focal point, the real victim is actually Nikki. Even when things start to take a violent turn, you’re more terrified for her than of her.
Courtesy of Focus Features
That said, once shit hits the fan (which is an understatement), Nikki becomes outright horrifying. While Bear’s comeuppance is undoubtedly deserved, it’s still hard to watch him lie in the bed he made. As Nikki’s infatuation (sugarcoating it) with Bear slowly snowballs from neediness to possessiveness, Obsession culminates in an absolutely gutwrenching finale that will shake audiences to their core. Between visual homages to Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse (2001) and moments that are downright demonic, Curry Barker’s ability to build a scare and pay it off is nothing short of remarkable, particularly for a filmmaker of his young age.
The New Kid on the Block
For many people going into Obsession, writer-director Curry Barker will be a brand-new name. In 2024, Barker reached virality with his microbudget found-footage horror debut Milk & Serial, turning heads and landing him a Hollywood deal with United Talent Agency (UTA). Now, with millions of social media followers thanks to That’s a Bad Idea and fans to come thanks to Obsession, Barker has been launched into the big leagues. His next feature, titled Anything but Ghosts, is being produced by horror juggernauts Jason Blum, Steven Schneider, and Roy Lee. The latest name in the comedy-to-horror pipeline, Barker joins the likes of Zach Cregger, David Gordon Green, and Jordan Peele in a very niche subcategory of comedians-turned-horror filmmakers.
Of course, it’s worth noting that Barker was recently handed the responsibility to write and direct a new Texas Chain Saw Massacre movie as well. After Obsession, that iconic franchise could be in safe hands. It’s not often you see a sophomore effort with this much narrative and formal prowess, particularly in the horror landscape. Comedy and horror share the same setup-and-punchline model, and Obsession showcases how the two genres can work in unison to create something unforgettable. Plus, Barker is using his low-budget internet comedy roots to his advantage. Working within extremely tight narrative and budgetary confines (Obsession cost a mere $1 million to make), Barker knows how to keep things simple yet effective.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Obsession hits theaters on May 15!
Release Date: May 15, 2026.
Directed by Curry Barker.
Written by Curry Barker.
Produced by James Harris, Haley Nicole Johnson, Christian Mercuri, & Roman Viaris.
Executive Producers: Jason Blum, Leonora Darby, David Haring, Ruzanna Kegeyan, & Mark Lane.
Main Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, & Andy Richter.
Cinematographer: Taylor Clemons.
Composer: Rock Burwell.
Editor: Curry Barker.
Production Companies: Capstone Pictures, Tea Shop Productions, & Blumhouse Productions.
Distributors: Focus Features (North America) & Universal Pictures (International).
Runtime: 108 minutes.
Rated R.
