Obsession – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Obsession  – Love and Horror: It is Wishful Thinking

Situations … circumstances … moments.  In the balance of a push and pull, it becomes a marker of how you look and see things, especially in tales of horror.  For all the clichés that come in this genre, there are always those expectations of can you … feel the fear.  That is a broad stroke, but every once in a while, a film does that … and much more.  In this review I look at the latest horror film to hit cinemas.  The premise might seem a bit simple, but Obsession leads into a tense journey of lust, fear and what it truly means to love.

When a lonely young man looks to find love, an innocent snap leads to a frightful case of be careful what you wish for.  Horror is a genre that plays around with ideas of how to make the audience feel scared.  From slashers to thrillers, the makings come in the form of intent.  With this film, it starts off from a simple place … but the horror is elevated to a degree where characterization and intent become a question of, what is there to believe.  In the beginning, we are introduced to our cast of characters (view the list of actors/actresses at the film’s IMDb page – link), where we find out that a young man named Bear has had deep feelings for one of his closest friends, Nikki, for a long time.  Through raw moments, we learn that he is conflicted in how to approach the topic of ‘asking her out’.  After a momentary lapse (and some convenient plotting), he decides to use a ‘one wish willow’ and ask for true love from Nikki.  From this point, the film is marked with a questionable context: Is the Nikki who ‘falls in love’ with Bear truly real?  This marker of the ‘what if’ creates a sandbox like journey, one that elevates the horror through unorthodox methods that play through a series of tense, creepy and sometimes traumatizing moments.  Breaking from the clichés of common jump scares helps bring an eeriness to the raw conversations between Nikki, Bear and their friends.  This allows for the unique building of horror through the aspect of dramatic characterization.  There’s confusion and willful ignorance that play into the complexion of their relationship, a struggle between what is love vs being entrapped by desire.  This fragility hangs on a thread of wishful thinking through a love that probably is not what it seems to be.

As more horrific things continue in this faux relationship, the heightened grip comes in the complexion of the drama that weaves through the tension.  The highs and lows aren’t marked with clichés, but an authentic look at the characters and the continued idea of, what is love.  As things reach a height of obvious truths, we head into a third act that marks the full circle treatment of the tale.  It is in the final act that revelations become a marker of complexions of what is horror in a romance.  Obsession is a film that elevates beyond its premise.  If you are a fan of horror, character or genre bending films, this is one for you.  This is worth the full price … go see it on the big screen.

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)