Obsession
Okay, that's pretty fucked up. Having never heard of "The Monkey's Paw," Bear (Michael Johnston) uses an odd novelty item found in the type of antique stores that sell magical items normally only found in movies like this, Needful Things, or Gremlins, to wish that his longtime crush loved him. Almost immediately, Bear sees a change in Nikki (Inde Navarrette) who becomes both more emotionally open but also psychologically unhinged.
Despite Nikki's complete change, and creepy moments showcasing something unnatural has been done to her that Bear attempts to rationalize by being caused by natural causes such as drugs or emotional trauma rather than his wish, the pair being dating to the complete shock of their two co-workers (Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless). But Nikki's obsession with Bear only grows more manic and crazed creating some undeniably creepy on-screen moments from Navarrette (all of which apparently were created with lighting, practical effects, and makeup, rather than the use of CGI).
The moral of being careful what you wish for has never been more apropos. While not directly discussing what's happening on film, the story from writer/director Curry Barker delves into men's historical subjugation of women still present in modern dating by providing us a story of a man who didn't accept no for an answer and the horrific consequences that followed. The word rape is never uttered over the film's 108-minute running time, but Bear's wish removing Nikki's personal freedom for his own short-term satisfaction, under the cover of a romantic act, can't really be called anything else. When we see glimmers of the "real" Nikki trying to get out even Bear begins to understand what exactly he's caused.
Tapping into the cultural zeitgeist of the more fucked-up aspects of relationships between men and women, Obsession has become a massive hit for a small independent horror movie offering a more modern take on a classic story. Once the wish is made, Bear seals the fate of himself, his friends, and the woman he professes to love. Although he may try to curb the more outlandish antics of Nikki, Bear finds himself stuck in a deranged situation of his own making. And seeing Bear's reality devolve into unearthly insanity is one hell of a ride.
- Title: Obsession
- IMDb: link
