After viewing Curry Barker’s Obsession (2026), I have a word of advice: Stay away from one-wish willows. In this intense experimental/psychological horror/thriller, Bear (played by Michael Johnston) has a crush on Nikki (played by Inde Navarrette) and makes a decision that he regrets. Bear buys a one-wish willow, makes a wish for Nikki to love him more than anyone else in the world, and soon experiences a nightmare. Nikki becomes obsessed with Bear and displays behavior that is the complete opposite of her own. She cries and pines over Bear, clings to him and even kills for him. Nikki’s outrageous acts of jealousy are witnessed by those around her and some are brutally hurt, destroyed and murdered at her hands.
Nikki made me so scared. I could not believe the level of intensity in her obsession for Bear. As gruesome, sadistic and disgusting as Nikki is, her behavior is not far from that of some real life people in our society. There have been serial killers with obsessions for their targets who have done terrifying things to them. In the news, we have heard of lovers’ quarrels turned to homicide-suicides, evil parents killing their children and children murdering their parents. What is viewed in Obsession is a direct reflection of acting upon emotions, which can be extremely detrimental and deadly. I also found myself thinking about this film as an example of why we need to make mental health a priority.
What is also interesting about Obsession is the idea that life can be made easy if we just made one wish in our favor. Bear thought he knew what would be good for him, but he never thought about the consequences. It is the idea of self-gratification and wanting something so soon, so badly that we do not think it through nor how the decision can affect us (and others around us) in the long run. Bear just wants Nikki to love him, yet his wish comes with a price of Nikki’s obsession and deranged behavior.
There are several elements that I think work well in conveying the overall message in this film. The lighting either goes dim or there is complete darkness around Nikki at the beginning of each of her psychotic episodes. The use of music and sound, in general, separates the normal flow from periods of danger where Nikki’s obsession takes center stage. Nikki isolates Bear from others by either begging him to stay in with her or by hurting or killing those closest to and around him. The amount of blood and other disgusting bodily fluids and organs are exposed in several scenes within the film. Nikki even inflicts pain upon herself and spills the most blood from her own body than anyone else’s in the film.
I will not give away the end, but it definitely is very sad. If you are suffering from depression, the loss of a loved one or any other emotionally- or psychologically-affecting situation, please stay away from this film. While Barker did a great job in visually personifying obsession, it is a very hardcore and frightening film.
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